Beautiful and unique Clouded Leopards are #endangered by #palmoil, #meat #mining #deforestation and human persecution across their range. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4wildlife
Found in the forests of Asia, this secretive midsized cat is almost as mysterious today as it was nearly 200 years ago when it was first described. We do know, however, that it has a taste for the treetops. This wonderfully agile feline is an incredible arboreal hunter, capable of catching monkeys, civets and even birds in the trees, balancing itself with the longest tail, in relation to body size, of any cat. In fact, the clouded leopard is probably the most talented climber in the whole cat family.
It is one of just two species of feline that can rotate its flexible ankles backwards (the other is the margay from South America), which allows it to climb down a tree headfirst with squirrel-like ease, move along horizontal branches while hanging beneath them like a sloth, and even dangle from a branch using just its hind feet. Its Malayan name is harimau-dahan, which means ‘branch tiger’.
With regard to the clouded leopard’s name, although it does have beautiful cloud-like markings on its body, it is not a leopard. It isn’t even part of the Panthera genus of ‘big cats’, where true leopards – along with lions, tigers and jaguars – sit. Originally, there was just one species of clouded leopard, but scientists ‘split’ the species in 2006 because of genetic differences between those found on mainland Asia and those found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The images in this article are of the clouded leopard; the second, more recently recognised species, which tends to be darker in colour and has smaller cloud markings, is now known as the Sunda clouded leopard.
Relative to its size, the clouded leopard has the longest upper canine teeth of any predator. At 5 cm long, they’re not much shorter than those of a tiger, even though a tiger can be up to 10 times larger in body size. It seems as though the clouded leopard is the closest living species we have to the extinct sabre-toothed cats.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Brown Spider Monkeys have striking bright brown eyes and are highly intelligent. They travel and forage in the upper levels of the forest. They spend most of their time in the canopy, sometimes use the middle and lower strata but are rarely seen in the understory. They are highly frugivorous and feed largely on ripe fleshy fruits, which comprise approximately 80% of their diet and that are mainly found in the emergent trees and upper parts of the forest canopy (Van Roosmalen and Klein 1988, Di Fiore et al. 2008, Link et al. 2012).
The intelligent and lively Brown Spider Monkeys 🐵🐒🤎 of the #Amazon are critically endangered from #beef and #palmoil #deforestation. 80% of their range is under threat. Support their survival and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/07/brown-spider-monkey-ateles-hybridus/
In Colombia and Venezuela, Brown Spider Monkeys are subject to pervasive habitat loss and to hunting (Link et al. 2013). In Colombia the habitat ofBrown Spider Monkeys is extremely fragmented, and currently less than 20% of the historical distribution remains (Link et al. 2013). There may be a few populations of adequate size to be viable in the mid- to long-term (Defler et al. 2003). Habitat alteration appears to be the most important threat to the Venezuelan population of the Brown Spider Monkey. The lowland forest of the state of Zulia and the piedmont of the Perijá Mountains are heavily destroyed by expanding cattle ranching activities (B. Urbani unpubl. data).
Portillo and Velásquez (2006) undertook a gap analysis for this primate species within the Perijá Mountains and found that the remaining total forest area is still sufficiently large (813,257 ha), but only 30% is relatively well protected. The rest is affected by rapid human expansion and land clearance.
Beautiful and adorable young Leo along with his mum have made some cool videos about endangered species, and make reference to Palm Oil Detectives and palm oil as being a key threat to spider monkeys in Central and South America. Follow their channel for more
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Savvy consumers have been pressuring French Dairy multinational Danonefor decades to cease using deforestation palm oil. Yet they actually haven’t stopped this. From their website:
‘Danone is committed to eliminating deforestation from its supply chain by end of 2020, and to the principles of no deforestation, no development on peat, and no exploitation of rights of workers, indigenous peoples and local communities (NDPE).’
This phrasing above means absolutely nothing. In reality, in 2021 Danone’s supply chain continues to slash and burn thousands of hectares of forests and release mega-tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. Danone is therefore involved in the killing thousands of endangered species. Once these animals are gone – they are gone for good. See research on Danone’s palm oil sourcesincluding a PDF of their palm oil mills.
Boycott @Danone’s dairy products! 🧈🥛 Their #palmoil is so-called “sustainable” from #RSPO yet it still causes #deforestation 🤮🔥 mass species #extinction ☠️and #ecocide Resist with your wallet! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/06/danone/
Boycott @Danone for using dirty #palmoil and pretending it’s “sustainable”. In reality it’s ALL linked to #deforestation #extinction 💀 and #humanrights abuses. Fight back with your wallet #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/03/06/danone/
Global Witness October 2021 Report: Violence and death for palm oil connected to household supermarket brands (RSPO members)
“One palm oil firm, Rimbunan Hijau, [Papua New Guinea] negligently ignored repeated and avoidable worker deaths and injuries on palm oil plantations, with at least 11 workers and the child of one worker losing their lives over an eight-year period.
“Tainted palm oil from Papua New Guinea plantations was sold to household name brands, all of them RSPO members including Kellogg’s, Nestlé, Colgate, Danone, Hershey’s and PZ Cussons and Reckitt Benckiser”
Danone makes claims of sustainability for palm oil on their website. They have a NDPE policy on their website (a policy which prohibits deforestation and peatland destruction). However this policy is not worth the paper it is written on. In 2020, Danone was one of many global brands to continue to purchase palm oil from mills for 38,000 ha of newly destroyed rainforest in Indonesia. Sending hundreds of species of animals plummetting towards extinction. Danone’s claims do not match what is happening on the ground. This is pure greenwashing! The brand has a high ranking on the WWF Scorecard and has an RSPO certification. However this high ranking is greenwashing and this mega-brand is purchasing huge amounts of palm oil from two mills that are responsible for 44% of all deforestation: Indonusia and Sulaidy.
Palm Oil Detectives thinks it is wise to boycott all Danone sub-brands until it has been independently verified that they have stopped 100% of their deforestation activities throughout the world.
Danone own a vast global empire of dairy and drink sub-brands
The most updated list of their stable of brands from their website includes:
Every living organism has a way of communicating. We may not be able to understand each other’s language. But its there and communication get passed from one organism to another.
How do forests speak to us?
If you have ever been into the woods and feel different ways nature talks to us. From the wind whispers, total silent, singing birds, etc.
The air is fresh, the environment is calm and things somehow friendly. Very different from what we are used to in our living space.
The forest is free from all sort of pollution, allowing our souls and spirit to truly enjoy some peace.
Me in the forest
What about amphibians, even insects?
Have you ever been carried away watching small insects going about their business? The termites busy carrying stuff around, the beetle fighting or rolling some poop.
The lion plotting and finally running after their dinner. How the herbivores feed yet very alert of their environment. The constant checks and upright ears. It’s so refreshing.
I love how most of the animals and plants are so coordinated. You know, like how birds fly in groups creating different shapes up there. The termites and ants walking in a straight line. The parasitic trees growing beautiful over their host trees.
It’s just amazing, communicating to us the importance of togetherness, order, and union. Communication that is clearly passed across.
So how do humans communicate to non-humans?
I think we are the only living species that other organisms rarely learn from positive stuff.
We are not very generous in spreading the love with no ulterior motives. We tend to expect something for anything we offer. Lucky, it’s not all of us.
We throw garbage to their homes, destroy nature, kill both flora & fauna, just to name a few. We are even not very nice to our fellow humans times.
Words are not the only way we communicate stuff. But actions do carry heavier weight. And we forget that everyone does need a little grace and kindness.
Life is symbolised with a heartbeat
Always be keen to listen, observe and mingle with other living organisms, you will learn important life skills and lessons.
I was happy to read an article about someone researching if trees do have a heartbeat. Since life is symbolized by a heartbeat. From that article, they have concluded that trees indeed do most stuff like other animals. That is, have a pulse, sleep, move, etc. Am yet to really understand it. But it does make sense.
Long-time ago, insects and birds were used to foretell weather patterns and seasons for planting. We need to have such relationship back.By opening up to nature and other living organisms. We will be able to learn how to reclaim a healthy planet back.
Corvids – birds such as ravens, crows, and magpies – and parrots are considered to be special among birds, as they have unusually large and densely packed brains. They show many cognitive capacities that are linked to an advanced understanding of their surroundings. This has earned them the name “feathered apes”. A recent study has found that it’s not only crows and ravens who help one another – grey parrots do as well.
There are a few observations of helping behaviours in non-human animals. For example, vampire bats provide food to other group members and save them from starvation. In more experimental settings, in which scientists can better control the environment, chimpanzees helped each other get a tool that is out of reach, while bonobos even provided help to strangers.
But some animals, like monkeys, don’t. This raises the question of how helping behaviours evolved. And are they limited to great apes and humans only, or is this capacity also present in other (non-mammalian) species?
Corvids – birds such as ravens, crows, and magpies – and parrots are considered to be special among birds, as they have unusually large and densely packed brains. They show many cognitive capacities that are linked to an advanced understanding of their surroundings. This has earned them the name “feathered apes”. But in recent studies, researchers found that crows and ravens did not help another.
Parrots had not yet been tested, so we decided to find out about their helping behaviours. We tested two parrot species – African grey parrots and blue-headed macaws – and found that the African grey parrots recognised when the other was in need, and would help as a result.
African grey parrots. Eric Isselee/Shutterstock
The experiment
Both parrot species in our study are threatened by extinction in the wild. As a result, we conducted the study with captive parrots belonging to the Loro Parque Foundation, a Spanish conservation non-governmental organisation, in Tenerife. These parrots were well habituated to humans and more than willing to work for some nut rewards.
We trained the birds individually to pick up and place a metal ring, or token, into the open hand of an experimenter. In return for this action, we handed them a piece of walnut as a reward. Once the birds could reliably do this, we placed a pair of parrots into a test room that was separated into two smaller compartments.
We gave tokens to one bird. But its hole facing the experimenter was blocked. This meant that it could not exchange the tokens for food. Its neighbour, however, was able to perform this action. But it was missing the tokens.
In the first trial, Bird A received 10 tokens and could pass them to Bird B. Only Bird B could exchange these tokens for food, while Bird A did not receive any food for performing this action. In the second trial, the roles were reversed and now Bird B could transfer tokens to Bird A, while only Bird A could exchange them for food.
The parrot with the tokens did not receive any immediate rewards for helping out their partner during the trial. This made it a selfless act. But following each trial, the roles were reversed and birds could pay back the received favours.
We found that the African greys reciprocated help, and gave more tokens to their partner if they also received a lot of help before.
We also did two control tests. This was because we weren’t able to draw any conclusions about the parrots’ underlying motivation to help each other from the experiment. They could, for example, be playing or trying to bring the tokens closer to the human hand.
In one control, the parrots couldn’t exchange tokens for food. If the birds still transferred tokens to their partner, we could attribute this to their intrinsic motivation to play with objects.
In another control, we wanted to find out if the birds were transferring tokens based on a selfish motivation. We tested the birds without a partner present, consequently, no one on the other side could exchange the token for food. Under these conditions, it wouldn’t make sense for the parrot to transfer the tokens into an empty compartment unless they were trying to help themselves by bringing the tokens as close as possible to the experimenter’s hand.
The African greys were able to discriminate between conditions in which help was needed or useless. They transferred fewer tokens if no one was present on the other side, or if the partner could not exchange the tokens for food. However, if the partner could use the tokens and exchange those for food, they readily gave their partner tokens.
This demonstrated that they understood the task and their partner’s action-based goal: exchange tokens for food.
The blue-headed macaws, on the contrary, generally gave very few tokens to their partners. In fact, they acted rather selfishly, trying to bring the tokens as close as possible to the experimenter’s hand – whether or not another bird was on the other side.
Cognitive capacity
This result is very interesting, as it shows that the cognitive capacity to help another individual in need is present also in a non-mammalian species.
Birds and mammals shared their last common ancestor around 300 million years ago. Considering that monkeys and corvids don’t help each other, our findings suggest that the cognitive capacity for helping behaviours evolved multiple times during evolution, independently from one another.
Essentially, facing similar ecological and social pressures can lead to the evolution of the same cognitive capacities for coping with them.
In the case of the African grey parrots, considering they live in large flocks of up to 1,200 individuals, they need to keep track of multiple social interactions at a time: who did I interact with yesterday, was it positive or negative?
They would need to remember these interactions, as they might not see particular individuals every day.
Blue-headed macaws, on the contrary, were observed in smaller flocks of only around 10 individual in the wild. Living in smaller flocks means there’s less social information to store as the group composition potentially stays rather constant.
It would therefore make sense for parrots, which live in complex societies – with group compositions that change often – to have enhanced cognitive abilities.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Deep in the heart of Africa, in the dense tropical rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there lurks a very curious creature. With long legs and predominantly dark brown coat of short fur, Okapi look, at first glance, a bit like a horse. But a second look will reveal a somewhat deer-like face atop a relatively long, flexible neck, and, most strikingly, horizontal white stripes on its upper legs and rump. Help them to survive every time you shop #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife and be #Vegan.
The #Okapi is to #Congo what the Panda is to China, a national treasure and a strange blend of a #giraffe and #zebra. They’re #endangered by #palmoil and #tobacco #deforestation. Help them survive when u #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-10X
These stripes, the exact patterns of which are unique to each individual, look like streaks of sunlight filtering through the trees in a dark forest, or like a giraffe dipped in chocolate. This helps the animal fade into the shadows.
One might reasonably assume, based on brief glimpses of the animal’s striped hindquarters as it runs deeper into the jungle, that it is some kind of shy forest zebra. But it is, in fact, the okapi – the only close living relative of the giraffe.
All in the Family
Though okapis and giraffes look quite different, they actually have several things in common. To start with, they both possess the same relatively short, hair-covered horns called ossicones. However, although both male and female giraffes have them, they are present only on male okapis.
Secondly, both species have the same pacing gait. They simultaneously step forward with the front and hind leg on the same side of the body, rather than moving alternate legs on either side of the body like most other hoofed animals.
And finally – that tongue. A giraffe has an extremely long, mobile, blue-black tongue, around 45-50 cm in length, which is used not only for grasping foliage but also for poking up its own nostrils to give them a good clean. The okapi’s tongue is just as dextrous and long, if not slightly longer, and can be used to wash its own eyelids and clean its ears, inside and out.
The okapi is to the Congo what the giant panda is to China
A national and cultural symbol of the DRC, this animal gives its name to many businesses in the country and its image can be found almost everywhere, from government ranger uniforms to the watermarks on Congolese banknotes. Despite this, it is largely unheard of in the western world. In fact, the okapi is so shy and reclusive that it remained unknown to science until the turn of the 20th century.
Hunt for the Okapi
Although some Africans had known about the okapi for a very long time, it wasn’t until 1890 that the explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley provided the western world with the first report of the animal. Stanley was already famous for finding a certain Scottish missionary in the heart of Africa several years previously and reporting the first words of their encounter: ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume?’. But although Stanley explored the Congo rainforest, he never actually saw the okapi himself – he merely had it described to him by local people. In volume 2 of his book, In Darkest Africa, Stanley wrote:
‘The Wambutti [a native tribe] knew a donkey and called it atti. They say that they sometimes catch them in pits. What they can find to eat is a wonder. They eat leaves.’
From this somewhat vague description, the ‘atti’ became surrounded with a unicorn-like mystique throughout much of the West, half-believed but never seen. Indeed, it became known as the ‘African unicorn’ by many Europeans. In 1900, the British high commissioner of Uganda, Sir Harry Johnston, was eager to get to the bottom of this mystery.
At this time, several Mbuti pygmies had been kidnapped by a German showman to be exhibited at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, and the Belgian government of the Congo sought Johnston’s help in returning them to their home in the Ituri Forest. In doing this, Johnston befriended the Mbuti people and learned from them more about the mysterious animal mentioned in Stanley’s writing. The Mbuti occasionally hunted the creature and called it ‘o’api’ (the apostrophe was pronounced like a ‘k’). Though Sir Harry Johnston, like Stanley before him, did not see the living animal, he did at least see okapi tracks in the rainforest and acquired from some local soldiers in an isolated village several pieces of striped skin from an okapi’s hindquarters. Two of these strips of skin, sent home by Johnston, became the first incontrovertible physical evidence of the okapi’s existence to reach Europe, although the scientists back in London prematurely described it as a new species of zebra.
By 1901, Johnston had returned home to Uganda, but in February of that year he received two okapi skulls and a complete skin of the animal from Belgian soldiers in the Congo. The shape of the skulls and teeth told Johnston that this animal must be a forest-dwelling relative of the giraffe, and he sent the skin and skulls, along with a letter and a watercolour painting of two okapis, back to England. These were exhibited during a meeting of the London Zoological Society, and later that year the enigmatic animal was given the scientific name of Okapia johnstoni, in honour of Sir Harry Johnston himself.
This is the painting that Sir Harry Johnston made in 1901. Considering that he had never seen a living okapi and that he based the painting on just a couple of skulls and a skin, it is reasonably accurate.
Cryptozoology and Conservation
The okapi became something of a sensation in the early 20th century. This excitement largely stemmed from the fact that people were amazed that an animal this large had gone unnoticed for so long. But it was soon realised that, contrary to popular belief at the time, not all the big animals on the planet had been discovered by science. A year later, in 1902, the mountain gorilla was first found in the high mountain forests of Central Africa, and in 1912 the western world learned about the Komodo dragon for the first time.
Even as the decades past, the okapi retained its air of mystery. Impressively for such a large animal, the okapi managed to avoid being photographed in the wild until as recently as 2008 – and even then it was only captured by a camera trap. Acquiring a near-mythical status due to its rare and elusive nature, it became a poster-child for cryptozoologists. As a perfect example of a big mammal that had remained unknown to science for so long, the okapi demonstrated to many that other large unknown animals might still be out there, waiting to be discovered.
But the okapi is very real – and also very endangered. No one knows how widespread the okapi once was, or even how many remain today – a vague estimate of between 10,000 and 20,000 has been given. Partly, this is because they are extremely wary of humans and almost impossible to spot in the wild, and partly because the DRC is one of the last places on Earth you would want to be an endangered species.
You don’t need to know much about the okapi to know that the DRC has endured terrible and widespread violence in recent years. Decades of misrule under a succession of dictators has seen much of the Congo’s natural resources spin out of the government’s control. In many places of the country, illegal gold, coltan and diamond mines operate with impunity, causing pollution and deforestation. Following years of civil war, general lawlessness has prevailed, and poachers are rife. (For a more detailed exploration about the situation in the DRC and how it has affected wildlife, especially gorillas and African grey parrots, I highly recommend reading this article by Alex.)
Sometimes, the okapi and the people that protect them get caught in the crossfire. In June 2012, a group of rebels known as Mai Mai Simba launched a vicious attack on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Ituri Forest, apparently as retaliation for a crackdown on poaching and mining in the area. The exact details of the attack are too horrifying to describe in detail here, but the militia killed six people, burned down the wildlife facility, and killed 13 okapis that were being housed there to raise local awareness about the species and their forest home.
The okapi has certainly been on a journey in the past 120 years. From being completely unknown to science, it was quickly catapulted to relative fame, with people admiring it for its near-mythical status. It briefly became a cryptozoological icon and is today a symbol of national pride for the people of the only country in which it lives. But that same country is factionally-divided and wrought with violence. Can the okapi survive it? We can only hope that the situation in the DRC improves – that human and animal exploitation ends and stability is restored. Perhaps then it can become a centre for eco-tourism, a place where people from all over the world can come and enjoy the beauties of one of Africa’s most biodiverse countries.
Read more about the Okapi and the threats they face
To find out more about the okapi, the hard work being done to conserve this amazing animal, and how you can help save the species, be sure to visit the Okapi Conservation Project website.
I love wildlife and I am ready to do whatever I can to ensure that future generation get to see animals
Kenyan conservationist and activist Winnie Cheche believes that humans are the custodians of nature. Hence it is our duty to protect nature not destroy it. Her work in conservation, education and awareness is essential to conserving the native animals and the landscape in Kenya. She is one of many brave and bold people fighting against animal extinction in Kenya. She is the Communications Lead for Kenya Environmental Action Network (KEAN).
Conservationists In Their Own Words: Winnie Cheche @WinnieCheche is Comms Lead for the @kean_network and is an inspiring #conservationist in #Kenya and who works tirelessly to protect animals and forests. #Boycott4Wildlife
“If you want to get involved in #conservation look at how humans are driven crazy out of our #greed and selfishness. Then work to find fixes and solutions for that. I believe in the #Boycott4Wildlife” @WinnieCheche Kenyan Activist Comms Lead @kean_network
#Kenyan locals have yet to embrace wildlife as important. Knowledge is power and a good start to ensure things change. Extinction is forever so I believe in the #Boycott4Wildlife” @WinnieCheche Kenyan Activist Comms Lead for @kean_network
“Most decisions are made without considering the perspective of animals”
~ Winnie Cheche
Poaching and conservation area encroachment continue to be a threat to wildlife existence, and something needed to be done.
I decided to be a conservationist and an activist when I realised that we were treating wildlife unfairly
Knowledge is power and a good start to ensure things change
Extinction is already taking them away, and humans contribute to that. Helping them know how they play that part will help stop the reaction.
Passion is everything. It gives you strength and reasons to fight for something!
If you want to get involved in conservation, look at the many ways that humans are driven crazy out of our greed and selfishness. Then work to find fixes and solutions for that. We can allow our humanity and compassion to guide us towards advocating for the right thing for animals and for the natural world.
Speak up and let’s stop normalising being oppressed in Kenya!
Just because we think nothing will be done. It’s one step at a time. The locals in Kenya have yet to embrace wildlife as important part of the ecosystem.
In Kenya, wildlife and animals are still seen through safari and tourism eyes
Wildlife is loosely assumed to belong to the Kenya Wildlife Service. Conservation will be effective and successful once we all understand and embrace the act of protecting wildlife welfare, even from ourselves.
My goal is to enable or give humans reasons to fall in love with our planet and wildlife
This love will help them consider the safety and welfare and welfare of animals while making decisions.
Wangari Mathai and Jim Nyamu helped me find strength to do what I do
I love what they have done for our environment and wildlife, and they challenge me to do more in ensuring that we do more. Our trees and wildlife should not suffer from human negative activities.
winnie cheche
Animals are never fake and are always their true selves
They demonstrate true bonds when it comes to relations among themselves. Greed and selfishness have stripped humans that luxury.
I love being in nature and the woods
Moments in the woods are the best. They are filled with bird’s song, the whistling wind, lots of fresh air, among other goodies. Nature allows you to enjoy stuff with no interruptions. I always look for the opportunity to embrace nature in a deeper way.
If I were to speak to my younger self, I would tell her to speak up – right from the beginning!
It took time before I got courage to speak up for anything. I would just remain silent and let it be. Not anymore and never again.
All I desire is for humans to fall in love with our planet, especially nature and wildlife
By opening up our hearts to animals and nature, we will eliminate our negative impact of our greed and selfishness. I also think it’s absolutely essential that we find eco-friendly solutions to waste and businesses and that we do right by our planet.
Please follow me on my journey as I change the state of wildlife conservation in Kenya
I blog regularly on WordPress about many issues relating to conservation and also the pressures, triumphs and challenges of wildlife conservation in Kenya. I am the Communications Lead for Kenya Environmental Action Network (KEAN). Feel free to get in touch with me for any opportunities or collaborations.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
For a while now, we have been labeled as a generation promoting mass extinction of other species as a result of some negative activities we do for developments. We have occupied and displaced these species, as our population continues to expand.
Cheche Winnie
What’s happening in Lake #Nakuru? #Elephant numbers have dropped massively recently from #poaching #illegal trade #deforestation. @WinnieCheche: “We need more people to get into #wildlife #conservation. More people 2 fight for their survival!”
A few days ago, we got the sad news of the elephants that died in the Okavango delta. They were in a bigger worrying number, as a result of something we are yet to be informed.
This is a blow to all of us, especially Africa as we have been trying to keep these gentle giants alive.
Poaching and illegal ivory trade have taken them away from us in big numbers, And we have been doing our best to stop this.
African Elephant Loxodonta africana
So far poaching has been ruled out, as the tusks were found intact on the dead elephants.
Mass death of buffalos in Lake Nakuru National Park due to anthrax outbreak
A while back, we also witnessed the mass death of buffalos in the Lake Nakuru National Park. Which was confirmed to have been caused by an outbreak of anthrax.
Luckily, we have always had a good population of buffaloes in this park. So the species bounced back in a short time.
What happens if species are already declining?
Poaching and illegal trade indeed lowered the elephant populations. And the need for space by growing Africa almost closed off the corridors and made space scarce commodity to the jumbos.
This provides unfavorable conditions to an already at-risk species to recover from just blows. Hence needs all the attention and help to bounce back.
We have been losing wildlife species in the wild at an alarming rate, whereby it only takes them a few years to disappear if nothing is done urgently.
We almost lost sitatungas in Kenya as communities encroached their habitat and hunted them. But through education and awareness, we were able to rehabilitate their home. And in response, their population bounced back.
Mass extinction is here with us and if we fail to address issues promoting it, we will lose wildlife faster than we think.
We need more people to indulge in wildlife conservation and preservation. We need more people to fight for their well being and survival. To be seen as part of society and not only as a source of tourism revenue.
We need to invest in wildlife and give them a chance to survive.
With their long shaggy coats and striking bright red faces, Bald-headed Uacaris are true icons of the Amazon rainforest and are found in #Brazil, #Peru and #Colombia. When a #Uacari has a bright red face this indicates they are in good health. A pale face indicates a sickly physical state. These remarkable #monkeys spend most of the year in the tree tops to avoid the seasonal flooding of their Amazonian habitat. During the dry season, they return to the ground to look for seeds. They face an existential threat from #palmoil, #soy and #meat #deforestation in the #Amazon. Once their unmistakeable scarlet faces were a common sight in the dusky green of the rainforest. Now they are rapidly disappearing, victims of a relentless drive for land, gold, and profit. Listed as Vulnerable, you can help them to survive every time you shop! #BoycottGold be #vegan for them and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
A stunning bright red face and shaggy coat give the Bald-headed Uacari a fairytale quality. They live in #Peru #Brazil and #Colombia in the #Amazon, threats incl. #palmoil #meat and #soy #deforestation. Take action! #Boycott4Wildlife https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/24/bald-headed-uacari-cacajao-calvus/ @palmoildetect
Uniquely beautiful Bald-headed Uacaris are unusual with their bright red faces. Threats include #palmoil #meat #soy and gold #mining #deforestation. Fight for their survival and #BoycottPalmOil and #gold! #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect.bsky.social https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/24/bald-headed-uacari-cacajao-calvus
The Bald-headed Uacari is one of the most striking and easily recognisable primates of the Amazon Basin. Their vivid scarlet faces, completely free of fur, contrast sharply with their thick, shaggy coats. Scientific studies have shown that their red faces come from having very thin skin with a dense network of blood vessels just beneath the surface. Unlike other primates, they lack melanin pigment in their facial skin, allowing the redness to shine through. The bright red colour is thought to signal good health — individuals suffering from illness or parasites tend to have pale faces. This striking feature likely plays a major role in their social interactions and may help individuals choose healthy mates (Mayor et al., 2015).
Their long coats vary between subspecies, adding further distinction to their already dramatic appearance:
Cacajao calvus calvus — Known as the White Bald-headed Uacari, this subspecies has a pale blonde to white coat, making their deep red faces even more prominent. They are found mainly around the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve in Brazil.
Cacajao calvus rubicundus — These Uacaris have reddish fur and pinkish-red faces, although little is known about their full physical description due to a lack of field studies.
Cacajao calvus ucayalii — Also called the Peruvian Red Uacari, they have reddish-brown fur with a deep red face. Adults, particularly males, are heavier and have strong jaws adapted for cracking open very hard seeds.
Cacajao calvus novaesi — This subspecies is poorly studied but is believed to have features that are somewhere between the pale calvus and the red ucayalii subspecies.
Bald-headed Uacaris are highly agile, moving quickly through the flooded forests and treetops. They have long limbs and strong hands that help them leap across branches, an essential skill during the rainy season when the forests are submerged and dry land disappears.
These New World monkeys are very gregarious and social, they live in groups called troops of close to 100 individuals. They then split up into smaller groups of about ten monkeys to forage. At night they sleep aloft, high in the rain forest canopy.
Groups of monkeys often split into smaller bands that travel separately and come back together depending on the season and food availability — a system known as “fission-fusion.” Some researchers believe Bald-headed Uacaris might even have complex social structures like those seen in some Old World monkeys, forming smaller family groups within larger communities (Bowler et al., 2012).
Diet
Bald-headed Uacaris have very specialised eating habits. They mostly eat the seeds inside fruits — not just soft fruit pulp like many other monkeys. Using their strong jaws and specialised teeth, they crack open hard seeds that other animals cannot access. In simple terms, they are seed specialists: animals that eat seeds as their main food. This unusual diet makes them important for forest health because they help control which plants grow by deciding which seeds get eaten and which survive. However, this also means they are vulnerable if their favourite trees are lost or their habitat changes.
Threats
Palm oil, soy and meat deforestation
The greatest threat facing the Bald-headed Uacari is the relentless destruction of their várzea forest habitats. These flooded forests are systematically cleared for agriculture and pasture, often to make way for cattle ranching, along with soy and palm oil industrial crops.
Small-scale farmers cut and burn sections of forest along the Amazon’s tributaries, degrading critical habitat needed by the Uacaris to forage and move. Although Cacajao calvus calvus populations in protected areas like Mamirauá have remained relatively stable, forest cover in unprotected areas of Brazil and Peru is shrinking at alarming rates. Should current deforestation trends continue, an estimated 10–15% of their habitat could be lost by mid-century (Global Forest Watch, 2024). This loss is particularly devastating because Bald-headed Uacaris are habitat specialists, dependent on seasonal floodplain forests — ecosystems that cannot easily regenerate once destroyed. As a result, deforestation not only reduces the total area available but also fragments populations, leading to genetic isolation and making them more vulnerable to extinction.
Palm oil plantations are rapidly spreading in parts of the Amazon, especially in Brazil, Venezuela and Peru, where industrial palm oil production has increased dramatically in recent years. Clearing forests for palm oil destroys the complex ecosystems that Bald-headed Uacaris depend on and creates long-term environmental damage by draining swamps and altering flood cycles.
Gold mining
Illegal and industrial gold mining is another grave threat to the Amazon and the wildlife that lives there. Mining operations clear vast tracts of forest, pollute rivers with toxic mercury, and destroy the delicate floodplain ecosystems that Bald-headed Uacaris need to survive. Mercury used in gold extraction contaminates water systems, poisoning fish and other aquatic life, and eventually enters the food chain. Even low levels of mercury exposure can cause long-term harm to primates, including neurological damage and reproductive problems.
Gold mining also brings waves of human migration into remote forest areas, increasing deforestation and hunting. Rivers once teeming with life become muddy, barren channels, while forests are left pockmarked with scars from mining pits. For Bald-headed Uacaris, whose lives are so closely tied to the health of river systems and floodplain forests, gold mining represents a direct assault on their habitat and wellbeing. Without urgent action to curb mining activities, these ecosystems — and the species that depend on them — face an uncertain future.
Hunting
Hunting is a significant threat to the Bald-headed Uacari, particularly in areas outside protected reserves. In some regions, they are hunted for bushmeat, despite their human-like appearance, which in a few traditional cultures discourages killing. In Peru, particularly along the Ucayali and Yavarí rivers, surveys have shown that hunting has already exterminated Uacari populations from entire stretches of their historical range (Aquino, 1988). The rise of logging operations in these remote areas has further exacerbated the problem. New logging roads provide easier access for hunters, and increased human presence fuels the demand for bushmeat. On the Yavarí and Yavarí-Mirín rivers, hunting levels rose sharply after 2004, correlating with the arrival of logging companies (Bodmer et al., 2006). This expansion has turned once-inaccessible refuges into open hunting grounds, severely threatening remaining Uacari populations.
Competition for aguaje palm with humans
The Mauritia flexuosa palm, also known as the aguaje palm, is a key food resource for the Bald-headed Uacari, particularly for the Cacajao calvus ucayalii subspecies. However, unsustainable harvesting practices have led to the decimation of Aguaje palm across large areas. Palm fruit extraction traditionally involved gathering fallen fruits. Nowadays, large-scale commercial harvesting often results in cutting down entire palms to access the fruit more quickly. This reduces food availability for uacaris. Studies near Iquitos have shown that intense extraction of Mauritia flexuosa correlates with the decline of seed predators like Uacaris (Bodmer et al., 1999; Meyer & Penn, 2003). The loss of these palms is doubly harmful, impacting both their diet and the integrity of the flooded forest ecosystems they inhabit.
Timber deforestation
The expansion of commercial timber logging concessions poses a hidden but deadly threat to Uacaris. Logging concessions in Peru now cover roughly one-third of the known range of Cacajao calvus ucayalii (Bowler, 2007). Even low-intensity logging operations open up forests, creating access routes that facilitate poaching and settlement.
Wherever humans infiltrate deeply into the rainforest, hunting occurs. In areas where logging has begun, researchers have recorded higher per capita consumption of bushmeat compared to rural villages without logging activity (Bodmer et al., 2006). Logging also disturbs forest composition, removing key tree species that form part of the Uacari’s specialised diet. Consequently, even small-scale logging can degrade habitats beyond repair, pushing already fragile populations closer to extinction.
Infrastructure development
Infrastructure development — including new roads, bridges, and settlements — fragments the continuous forests that Bald-headed Uacaris rely on. These irreplaceable primates are riverine specialists with limited dispersal capabilities, meaning that fragmented landscapes restrict their ability to travel, find mates, and access food. Isolation of small groups leads to reduced genetic diversity, increased inbreeding, and higher vulnerability to disease and environmental changes.
Fragmented habitats are more susceptible to edge effects, such as increased exposure to predators and invasive species. Without large, connected tracts of forest, Uacari communities collapse. Over time, fragmented and degraded forests become population sinks where local extinctions are inevitable unless proactive conservation measures are taken.
As the rivers swell and the great lakes spread into the trees, new life stirs. The Bald-headed Uacari times births to the bounty of the flood, a fragile promise carried on the rising waters. After a gestation of about six months, a single infant clings to its mother’s shaggy fur, learning the language of the trees — how to leap, how to forage, how to listen to the forest’s unseen warnings.
These young ones grow slowly, nurtured by mothers and guarded by their groups. In the wild, where predators and human threats loom, survival is uncertain. In captivity, away from the murmur of rivers and the hush of rain, they can live up to 30 years — but no cage can offer them what the flooded forest does.
Geographic Range
The Bald-headed Uacari is found in:
Brazil: Amazonas and Acre
Peru: Loreto and Ucayali
They move with the rivers through the flooded forest — a living map that changes with the rains. But roads, ranches, and chainsaws carve through this liquid world, isolating the Uacari in shrinking islands of trees. Each patch of forest lost is a story silenced, a life severed from the ancient currents that once connected the Amazon’s heart.
Take Action!
To protect the Bald-headed Uacari, it is essential to support indigenous-led conservation efforts, preserve Amazonian floodplain ecosystems, and stop the drivers of deforestation, including palm oil. Choose products that are 100% palm oil-free and advocate against illegal logging and the illegal wildlife trade. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
FAQs
What is the current population of Bald-headed Uacaris?
Precise numbers are unknown due to the remoteness of their habitat and limited field studies. However, densities vary from 10 to 17 individuals per square kilometre in some protected areas, with an ongoing population decline estimated at 30% over three generations (2018–2048) (Paim, 2005; Bowler, 2007).
How long do Bald-headed Uacaris live?
In captivity, they can live up to 30 years. However, in the wild, survival is typically shorter due to threats like hunting and habitat loss (Ayres, 1986).
Why do Bald-headed Uacaris have red faces?
Their red faces result from a thinner skin with a dense network of large capillaries. This bright colour may be an honest signal of health, as sick or parasitised individuals show paler faces (Mayor et al., 2015).
Are Bald-headed Uacaris impacted by palm oil plantations?
Yes. Expansion of palm oil and other agricultural activities in the Amazon accelerates forest loss, contributing to their habitat degradation (Global Forest Watch, 2024).
Do Bald-headed Uacaris make good pets?
Absolutely not. Bald-headed Uacaris are highly social, intelligent primates who live in complex social communities. They thrive in their natural environment not in captivity. Keeping them as pets drives illegal hunting, disrupts wild populations, and is extremely cruel. Advocating against the exotic pet trade is crucial to their survival.
Support the conservation of this species
This subspecies is protected within the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve (Ayres et al. 1999). Although no active conservation efforts are in place.
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Bowler, M., Bodmer, R.E. Diet and Food Choice in Peruvian Red Uakaris (Cacajao calvus ucayalii): Selective or Opportunistic Seed Predation?. Int J Primatol32, 1109–1122 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-011-9527-6
Mayor, P., Mamani, J., Montes, D., González-Crespo, C., Sebastián, M. A., & Bowler, M. (2015). Proximate causes of the red face of the bald uakari monkey Cacajao calvus. Royal Society Open Science, 2, 150145. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.150145
Veiga, L.M., Bowler, M., Silva Jr, J., Queiroz, H., Boubli, J. & Rylands, A.B. 2020. Cacajao calvus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T3416A17975917. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T3416A17975917.en. Downloaded on 23 February 2021.
How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?
Take Action in Five Ways
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
The Earth’s forests have been changing ever since the first tree took root. For 360 million years, trees have grown and been felled through a dynamic mix of hurricanes, #fires and natural regeneration. But with the dawn of the 17th century, humans began replacing large swathes of forest with farms and cities. The global pace of #deforestation has slowed in the 21st century, but #forests are still disappearing – albeit at different rates in different parts of the world. In the tropics, forest loss is accelerating in previously pristine wilderness. Help rainforests, wild animals and indigenous peoples to survive #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
As forest cover has fluctuated over time, the biodiversity within forests has changed too. Forests support around 80% of all species living on land, but the species we see on our woodland walks today are likely to be different from those people saw in the past. Many species, such as the Alpine longhorn beetle, survive in intact old-growth forests, while species like the red fox have managed to thrive in areas with higher human impact.
Forests around the world are changing, affecting unique biodiversity. Malkolm Boothroyd, Author provided
We wanted to know how changes in biodiversity worldwide are linked to changes in the world’s forests, but this was always difficult, as the effects of forest loss vary from one place to the next. How biodiversity shifts over time following forest loss hadn’t been explored across the globe – until now.
The Alpine longhorn beetle persists in old-growth forests across continental Europe. Gergana Daskalova, Author provided
Harnessing over five million records across 150 years at over 6,000 locations, we were surprised to find that forest loss didn’t always lead to declines in biodiversity. Instead, when forest cover declined, changes in biodiversity intensified, with increases in the abundance of some species and decreases in others. The composition of forest life – the different types of species present – was altered too. The rate at which these changes happened in each location accelerated as forest cover shrank.
The effects of forest loss were not uniform in all places. The loss of the same sized patch of forest led to biodiversity declines in one area and increases in another. Knowing the history of a particular place was important for understanding this variation. Whether or not forest loss of that magnitude had occurred at that location in the past usually determined what happened in the present. Once pristine forests saw biodiversity declines and historically disturbed forests often experienced no change or even saw increases in biodiversity.
When forests were lost in previously pristine wilderness, we found declines in the abundance of animals like swift parrots in Australia, tigers in Russia and capercaillies (a type of grouse) in Spain. These species only tend to thrive in ancient and lightly disturbed forest habitats.
The species that we discovered increasing in abundance after forest loss included white storks, Eurasian skylarks, red deer and red foxes – species which have evolved alongside disturbance and are more adaptable.
Delayed effects
Changes in biodiversity didn’t always immediately follow forest loss. We discovered that the pace at which forest loss altered biodiversity differed among short-lived species, such as light-loving plants like St John’s wort, and longer-lived species like red-tailed hawk. The longer the lifespan of a species, the longer it took for the effects of forest loss to register.
Sometimes the effects carried across generations. Red-tailed hawks may manage to raise their young alongside deforestation, but these offspring may struggle to prosper in the shrinking habitat, and ultimately fail to produce young of their own. If resources are scarce, species with longer lifetimes could persist but not reproduce for decades. That’s how the impact of forest loss on such species might only appear decades after the first wave of deforestation.
The pace at which biodiversity responds to forest loss can vary from a couple of years to several decades. Gergana Daskalova, Author provided
These delayed effects highlight how important it is to monitor plants and animals over decades. A single snapshot in time cannot detect the full extent of human impacts on biodiversity. With a longer perspective, we are better equipped to conserve Earth’s biodiversity not just now, but for decades to come.
By combining datasets from around the world, we can understand the state of the world’s forests and of the millions of plants and animals they support. Changes in the biodiversity matter because they directly affect the benefits that forests provide for people, such as clean air and a brake on climate change. With a better understanding of how forest loss influences biodiversity, we can improve future conservation and restoration efforts around the planet.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
The Rüppell’s Vulture is an enigmatic avian marvel soaring the African and European skies. Their powerful wings carry them aloft on streams of air to altitudes of 11,000 metres. From far above they scan the endless landscapes for sustenance. These remarkable carrion cleaners pose no threat to humans and only eat dead animals. They now teeter on the brink of extinction, fewer than 22,000 individuals remain alive due to the depletion of their prey species, human and wildlife conflict and palm oil deforestation throughout their range. This critically endangered species, are known for their awe-inspiring high altitude flights—reaching heights seen by commercial airlines. They face a grave threat from the insidious palm oil industry, mining along with other destructive industries across their range. Help them to survive and #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop.
The blue-beaked Rüppell’s #Vulture 🦅🪽😿 can soar to the height of a commercial plane. They’re critically endangered in #Africa from #palmoil #deforestation and human persecution. #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🪔🩸🔥🧐🙊⛔️ Help them! #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-Ql
Rulers of African skies and expert carrion clearers 🥩⭐️ Rüppell’s #Vultures 🩶🪶🦅 are critically #endangered due to human-wildlife conflict and #palmoil #deforestation in #Africa. Help them survive! #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-Ql
Across Africa’s vast savannahs, where acacia trees dot endless grasslands and thermals rise from sun-baked earth, Rüppell’s vultures soar at breathtaking heights—reaching altitudes where commercial aircraft cruise.
Rüppell’s vultures command attention with their impressive 2.6-metre wingspan and distinctive blue-grey beaks contrasting against mottled brown and cream plumage. Their powerful wings allow them to soar higher than any other bird, using thermal currents to effortlessly patrol territories spanning hundreds of kilometres. These birds can spot carrion from distances exceeding 6 kilometres.
Rüppell’s vultures gather in spectacular numbers at carcasses, with hundreds congregating at single feeding sites. They exhibit complex social hierarchies during feeding, with dominant birds claiming choice positions while younger individuals wait their turn.
Rüppell’s vultures are obligate scavengers, feeding exclusively on carrion from wild ungulates, livestock, and smaller mammals. They locate food entirely through exceptional eyesight, often following other vulture species to feeding sites. Their powerful beaks and digestive systems allow them to consume tough hide, sinew, and bones that other scavengers cannot process. They can safely consume rotting meat containing anthrax, botulism, and cholera due to highly acidic stomachs that kill harmful bacteria.
Reproduction and Mating
Rüppell’s vultures form monogamous pairs that mate for life, building substantial stick nests on cliff faces and escarpments. Females lay single eggs requiring 55 days of shared incubation. Once hatched, chicks remain in nests for approximately 150 days before fledging, with parents continuing to feed and teach them essential survival skills.
Geographic Range
This vulture frequents open areas of Acacia woodland, grassland and montane regions. Rüppell’s vultures once ranged throughout the Sahel region from Senegal and Gambia eastward to Sudan and Ethiopia, extending south through East African savannas to Tanzania and Mozambique. Catastrophic population declines have eliminated them from vast areas, with 96-100% losses reported in Mali and South Sudan colonies. Small populations now persist mainly within protected areas.
Threats
Poisoning and human persecution
Carbofuran pesticide transforms feeding sites into death traps as farmers place poisoned carcasses to kill predators threatening livestock. Single poisoning events kill 37-600 vultures simultaneously, as Rüppell’s vultures’ communal feeding behaviour ensures widespread exposure. The highly toxic pesticide causes rapid death, with entire flocks perishing within hours. Diclofenac, a veterinary drug fatal to vultures, has been identified in Tanzania markets despite causing mass vulture deaths across Asia. Brazilian manufacturers aggressively market diclofenac across 15 African countries, threatening remaining populations.
Traditional medicine trade
West African markets openly sell vulture parts for traditional medicine, with 1,128-1,692 individuals traded over six years. Traditional practices attribute clairvoyant powers to Rüppell’s vultures, driving demand for their heads, feet, and feathers in ceremonies.
Deforestation for meat farming, palm oil and other agriculture
Palm oil plantations and agricultural conversion eliminate the open savannahs and woodland mosaics essential for Rüppell’s vulture survival. Intensive farming reduces wild ungulate populations, removing the carrion sources upon which vultures depend entirely. Livestock farming often replaces diverse wildlife communities with single domestic species, reducing food availability and increasing poisoning risks.
Infrastructure development
Power lines create deadly obstacles across vulture flight paths, causing electrocution and collision mortality as Rüppell’s vultures navigate unfamiliar structures. Their large wingspans make them particularly vulnerable to electrical infrastructure. Road development fragments habitat while increasing human disturbance at traditional nesting colonies.
Take Action!
Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop. Adopt a vegan lifestyle protecting both wild and farmed animals from agricultural expansion. Support indigenous-led protection and traditional ecological knowledge recognising the vital role of scavengers. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
FAQs
How high can Rüppell’s vultures fly?
Rüppell’s vultures hold the world record for highest bird flight, reaching altitudes of 11,300 metres (37,000 feet). One individual was tragically discovered when they collided with a commercial aircraft at this altitude over Ivory Coast in 1973. Rüppell’s vultures commonly cruise at 6,000 metres (20,000 feet) and can survive these extreme heights due to specialised hemoglobin that efficiently absorbs oxygen despite low atmospheric pressure. Their unique blood chemistry allows them to function where most other birds would pass out from oxygen deprivation.
What do Rüppell’s vultures eat?
Rüppell’s vultures prefer fresh carcasses but can eat decomposing meat several days old. They have backward-pointing spikes on their tongues to help strip meat from bones and can gorge themselves until barely able to fly. A single large meal can sustain them for up to four days.
How big are Rüppell’s vultures?
Rüppell’s vultures are among Africa’s largest birds, measuring 85-103 centimetres (33-41 inches) long with wingspans reaching 2.6 metres (8.5 feet). Adults weigh 6.4-9 kilograms (14-20 pounds), making them noticeably larger than closely related white-backed vultures. Both sexes look identical with mottled brown and black plumage, whitish-brown underparts, and distinctive white collar around the neck base. Their heads and necks lack feathers—an adaptation preventing mess when feeding inside carcasses.
Are Rüppell’s vultures dangerous to humans?
Rüppell’s vultures pose no danger to humans as they are exclusive scavengers feeding only on dead animals. These birds are generally silent except when feeding or at nests, where they may squeal and hiss at each other during competition for food. Rüppell’s vultures are highly social, often gathering in groups of hundreds at feeding sites, but they avoid human contact and prefer to maintain distance from people. Their powerful beaks are adapted for tearing carrion rather than attacking live prey, making them completely harmless to humans.
How long do Rüppell’s vultures live?
Rüppell’s vultures can live up to 50 years in optimal conditions, reflecting their status as long-lived raptors with extended learning periods. Young vultures remain dependent on parents for nearly a year after fledging, learning essential skills for locating and competing for food sources. Their generation length of approximately 18.8 years indicates they reach breeding maturity relatively late compared to smaller birds. However, current threats including poisoning and habitat destruction may be significantly reducing average lifespans in wild populations, as Rüppell’s vultures face increasing mortality from human activities.
Why don’t Rüppell’s vultures get sick from eating rotten meat?
Rüppell’s vultures have evolved remarkable adaptations allowing them to safely consume decomposing carrion that would kill most animals. Their stomachs produce extremely acidic digestive juices that destroy harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins present in rotting meat. These vultures have also developed immunity to specific pathogens like anthrax, botulism, and cholera through evolutionary adaptation. Their featherless heads and necks prevent contamination when feeding inside carcasses, while specialised digestive systems process contaminated meat without illness, making them essential ecosystem cleaners.
What is the current population of Rüppell’s vultures?
The total population was estimated at approximately 22,000 mature individuals in the early 1990s, but recent catastrophic declines suggest numbers are now much lower. Rüppell’s vultures have experienced extremely rapid population declines of approximately 5.8% annually, equating to 92.5% loss over three generations. West African populations have been virtually eliminated, with some colonies declining by 96-100%. The species has disappeared entirely from Nigeria and experienced severe reductions across their former range.
How long do Rüppell’s vultures live?
Rüppell’s vultures have a generation length of approximately 18.8 years, indicating they can live well into their twenties under optimal conditions. Their long lifespan reflects the extended period required to master complex scavenging skills and locate widely dispersed food sources. Young vultures remain dependent on parents for extended periods, not reaching independence until the following breeding season. Current threats including poisoning and habitat loss may be significantly reducing average lifespans in wild populations.
What are the main conservation challenges facing Rüppell’s vultures?
The primary challenge is widespread poisoning, particularly from carbofuran pesticides placed in livestock carcasses to kill predators, which instead kills hundreds of vultures per incident. Traditional medicine trade in West Africa has decimated regional populations, with vulture parts commonly sold in fetish markets. Habitat conversion to palm oil plantations and agricultural expansion eliminates the open savannas Rüppell’s vultures require while reducing wild ungulate populations. Infrastructure development including power lines causes electrocution and collision mortality.
What are some interesting and unusual facts about Rüppell’s vultures?
Rüppell’s vultures hold the record for highest bird flight, reaching altitudes of 11,000 metres—higher than commercial aircraft typically cruise. They can spot carrion from distances exceeding 6 kilometres using exceptional eyesight. These highly social birds form monogamous lifelong partnerships and nest in large cliff colonies containing hundreds of breeding pairs. Despite their massive size and 2.6-metre wingspan, Rüppell’s vultures are surprisingly graceful fliers, using thermal currents to soar effortlessly across vast territories covering hundreds of square kilometres daily.
The species faces similar threats to other African vultures, being susceptible to habitat conversion to agro-pastoral systems, loss of wild ungulates leading to a reduced availability of carrion, hunting for trade, persecution and poisoning (Ogada et al. 2016).
Westrip, J.R.S., Garrido López, J.R., Saheb, M., Fellous-Djardini, A., Cuzin, F., Radi, M., Essetti, I., Onrubia, A. & Noaman, M. 2022. Gyps rueppelli (Mediterranean assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T22695207A208734094. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22695207A208734094.en. Accessed on 11 June 2025.
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My favourite animal changes all the time. When I was younger, I cycled through various large, majestic cats such as tigers, jaguars and snow leopards. At one point, I considered the polar bear among my favourites; another time, the hippo. But now I much prefer stranger, more obscure, more underappreciated animals. And a weird, elusive, nocturnal creature that looks almost like a walking pinecone fits that bill perfectly – the pangolin.
Pangolins are scaly enigmas that fascinate people of all ages. All species face imminent extinction from #Chinese #medicine, the #pet trade and #deforestation. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife and halt deforestation. By @thenaturenook
For many people, the first time they heard about this animal was probably in very recent months when it was identified as a possible culprit in transmitting COVID-19 from its original hosts (thought to be horseshoe bats) to humans. For better or worse, this recognition has brought the pangolin into mainstream media.
But even before the pangolin attracted global attention for its potential role in the pandemic that still grips the world, many conservationists had already been focusing on this strange, scaly creature for many years. And that’s because it has the dubious honour of being the most trafficked (non-human) mammal in the world.
Scaly Enigmas
The protective armour of a pangolin accounts for up to a third of the animal’s body weight. Image Source: Tikki Hywood Trust via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
There are only two groups of armoured mammals alive today. In the Americas, there are 21 species of armadillo, two of which can roll up into virtually impregnable balls to defend themselves. And on the other side of the world, in Africa and Asia, there are eight species of pangolin, which, although superficially similar in appearance to the armadillos, are not closely related to them at all.
Whereas armadillos are mainly protected by plates of dermal bone, the pangolin, uniquely among mammals, is almost completely covered in large brown scales made out of keratin (the same substance our hair and nails are made from). These scales overlap like shingles on a roof to create an almost impenetrable layer of armour that very few predators can overcome. The pangolin can even erect its scales and shut them like powerful scissors, chopping off anything that pokes between them, including, it is said, human fingers. As the scales wear out, they are replaced, one by one, so that a pangolin has the same number throughout its life.
The only places on a pangolin’s body not protected by scales are the sides of its face, the tip of its snout, and its belly and throat, which are naked except for a few fine, sparse hairs. If it feels threatened, it tucks its head towards its belly and wraps itself into a ball with its thick, muscular tail clasped tightly around itself. In fact, the name pangolin comes from the Malay word pengguling, which means ‘one who rolls up’.
Pangolins have both fascinated and confused Europeans for hundreds of years. These animals seemed to have a hybrid quality about them – part reptile, part mammal, and with just a little hint of fish. In the 17th century, the strange scaly skins of pangolins arrived in Europe more often than the living animals, although they were usually simply labelled as ‘scaly Indian lizards’.
Pangolins may look a bit like scaly anteaters, but their closest relatives are in the order Carnivora, which includes dogs, cats, hyenas, bears and seals. Of the eight species of pangolin, four live in Africa and four in Asia. Some of the smaller species spend their lives in trees and clamber around with the aid of a long, grasping tail. The smallest, the long-tailed pangolin from Africa, is also the most arboreal; its tail has 46 or 47 vertebrae – the most of any mammal. The larger species, however, are completely ground-dwelling. The front claws of a pangolin are so large that they aren’t much good for walking on, so it either walks on its knuckles or trundles along on its hind legs, hunched over so that its body is almost horizontal, with its front paws raised near the chest as if in prayer.
To make and maintain its scales, a pangolin needs a high-protein diet, which it satisfies by eating vast numbers of ants and termites. Image Source: David Brossard
The pangolin’s powerful claws are reserved primarily for digging and ripping open ant and termite nests. Once it has done this, it laps up the insects with a long, sticky tongue. The tongue of the biggest species, the giant pangolin, can reach lengths of up to 40 cm – one of the longest tongues relative to body size of any mammal – and the sheath that houses it extends right down the front of the animal’s chest and connects with its pelvis. The pangolin has no teeth, so ants collected by the mucus on the tongue are swallowed whole and mashed up by the horny lining and muscular movements of the stomach. It may also swallow small stones and sand to further grind up its food.
The Scale of the Problem
Hyenas and big cats can, occasionally, and with some considerable effort, pry a rolled-up pangolin apart. But the armour that normally protects this animal makes it acutely vulnerable to the deadliest predator of all: ourselves. In fact, rolling into a ball simply allows humans to pick it up and carry it off to the cooking pot or a crate with little fuss.
Culinary uses of pangolin range from bushmeat in Africa to delicacies in high-end Asian restaurants. In Vietnam, restaurants can charge up to US$150 per pound of pangolin meat, for it is considered a luxury food. Among Vietnam’s business elite, it is highly-prized as a status symbol, with businessmen frequently ordering pangolin meat to impress visitors. Even in restaurants that specialise in cooking exotic wildlife, pangolins are often the most expensive item on the menu. Sometimes, customers are required to order two hours in advance and place a deposit based on the animal’s weight. Restaurant employees may even kill the pangolin at the table, in front of diners, to show authenticity and freshness.
Ironically, given that they are supposed to protect the animal, it is a pangolin’s scales that make it so valuable in the illegal wildlife trade. These scales are highly sought after in many parts of both Africa and Asia for their purported benefits in traditional medicine, despite the fact that they (like rhino horn) are made only of keratin. They are incorrectly believed to, among other things, improve blood circulation, cure male impotence, stimulate lactation, and treat skin conditions.
The ground pangolin is known as bwana mganga, or ‘the doctor’, in Tanzania because every part of its body is believed to have medicinal use. There is, of course, absolutely no evidence that these scales have any impact on human health, yet the claims made on their behalf seem to become more outlandish by the year. Indeed, their ‘benefits’ have gone beyond the merely medical and can now supposedly ward off evil spirits and confer invisibility.
In the 1990s, a kilogram of pangolin scales was worth about $14. Today, that same weight may be worth $1,000 – $3,000 on the black market. Image Source: Kenneth Cameron, via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
The number of pangolins killed annually is hard to quantify. A conservative figure of 200,000 a year has been given, but that is likely to be an underestimate. Pangolins have been hunted and trafficked so extensively that all eight species are now threatened. Three are perilously close to extinction. The wild population of the Chinese pangolin, in particular, has declined by more than 80% in the last 20 years.
In 2016, CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) granted all eight species of pangolin the strictest form of protection, banning all international commercial trade. However, this has not slowed the increases in illegal killing or highly organised smuggling. Because they are notoriously difficult to keep alive and breed in captivity, and because three of the four Asian species have already been so extensively poached that they are now hard to find, illegal traders have turned to the African species. Pangolins are now being smuggled on an almost industrial scale from Africa to Asia to keep up with demand.
The black market is certainly lucrative: a kilogram of pangolin meat can be worth hundreds of dollars; a kilo of scales thousands of dollars. In 2017, China intercepted a shipment from Africa of nearly 12 tonnes of scales – representing around 30,000 pangolins. And in 2019 alone, authorities seized a staggering 81 tonnes; the average shipment size has increased from 2.2 tonnes three years ago to 6.2 tonnes today. What is most worrying about this is that the majority of the illegal trade goes undetected and unreported, with seizures representing only around a quarter of actual trade.
The Chinese and Javanese once used the pangolin’s hard, scaly hide to make elaborate body armour. This suit of armour, made almost entirely from pangolin scales decorated with gold leaf, was presented to King George III in 1820 by the Governor General of the East India Trading Company and can today be seen displayed at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Image Source: ExonOxon
Hope for the Future?
On 26 January 2020, in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19, China slapped a temporary ban on buying, selling and eating wild animal meat, and began shutting down breeding farms across the country. However, this ban does not extend to animals traded for fur, medicine or research. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, this ‘creates a potential loophole for traffickers who may exploit the non-food exemptions to sell or trade live wildlife’.
In June, China’s state media announced that pangolin scales had been removed from the official list of traditional Chinese medicine treatments, with strict penalties for those caught killing or trading them. Great news, right?
Not quite.
Though it was widely interpreted as a ban on pangolin scales, it soon became apparent that pangolin scales could still be used as ingredients within certain patent medicines – that is, medicines that are processed and ready-made. In other words, people will have to stop eating pangolins and buying their scales outright, but they can still take pills that contain pangolin parts. In total, eight formulae for medicines within the official 2020 pharmacopoeia were discovered still listing pangolin scales as an ingredient. Licensed companies and hospitals, of which there are approximately 700, are still able to legally produce medicines containing them. Many of these scales will undoubtedly come from China’s existing stockpiles, but it is unknown how large these stockpiles are. It is also suspected that, if the situation is not managed properly, pangolin scales may be illegally laundered into these stockpiles in the future, creating a black market nestled within a legal system. That’s if it’s not happening already.
A baby pangolin (delightfully known as a pangopup) is born with soft, pale scales, although they soon harden and darken. Infants will ride on their mother’s tail as she forages for insects. Image Source: Shukran888
It is believed that pangolins account for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade globally. Every five minutes, another wild pangolin is snatched from its home by a poacher. Yet in Europe, we barely know these animals even exist. In a survey of 2,000 people across the UK, only 8% of participants were able to correctly identify pangolins when shown pictures of them. Over 50% mistook them for armadillos. If these endearing creatures are to be saved, widespread awareness of their plight is critical.
A survey found that only 8% of people in the UK know what a pangolin is. These charismatic and cool creatures deserve more recognition, they face multiple human threats. Read the latest post on pangolins by @thenaturenook editor Jason
The unfortunate fact is that large, charismatic mammals tend to win public hearts over small, secretive, scaly ones. Pangolins just don’t have the widespread appeal of the great icons of conservation, such as tigers, rhinos or polar bears. But their very strangeness might yet save them. We have always had a fascination with the bizarre and the mysterious – and it is my hope that there is still enough desire to stop the world’s more unusual animals from disappearing forever.
#Gibbons and humans have more in common than might immediately seem apparent. Among many behavioural traits shared by our two species is singing. Not just that – the songs of gibbons have the potential to teach us about the origin of our own human capacities. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
The Japanese research emerges from a framework in evolutionary studies (with papers such as this one, this one and this one and here) in which cross-species comparison permits speculation on the origin of human capacities.
Among the features of gibbon behaviour that correspond to humans are:
the nature of the neural networks responsible for its perception and production
Back to the study
The authors of the AJPA study are interested in all of these interrelated factors. But their paper focuses in particular on the way the distinct acoustic signal (or sound) of female gibbons is produced and what this tells us about the feedback loop between sound-production and self-perception in the subject.
At the core of the AJPA study is a series of experiments – first modelled on a computer and then carried out in the laboratory – designed to test a rather complex theory: that female gibbons have the ability to modify the configuration of their vocal tracts in order to amplify signals in a specific range.
In this range, their voices are capable of extraordinarily effective exploitation of limited anatomical means.
In other words, humans and gibbons have both evolved neural control over their respiratory tracts. It is therefore what the brain achieves that allows this level of performance: the vocal tracts themselves are not especially well-suited to their task!
The rowdy, singing gibbon gang – all of them are endangered by deforestation
Where musical instruments such as flutes and trumpets have relatively fixed properties of bore, length and shape, the respiratory tracts of mammals are capable of modification in a variety of ways, including:
Significantly, all of these are more-or-less involved in the production of the variety of sounds on which language tends to depend.
But the aim of the Japanese research was to explore whether gibbons “tune” the shaping of their throats, mouths and lips to the frequencies generated by their vocal folds.
It’s a gas
The researchers used helium in their experiments. The use of helium as the medium in which the gibbon vocalised is thus a means of ascertaining how the subject responded to the effect – which in humans tends to shift the resonant frequencies of the voice towards “squeaky” higher “formants” (the acoustic response within an instrument – or voice – that defines the quality of sound, or timbre).
As in humans, gibbon vocalisation in the helium condition resulted in a shift of resonance to higher formants. Significantly, this was more pronounced in the higher range of the gibbon calls. This higher range marks their characteristic achievement of high-intensity vocal production able to carry over distance.
If this suggests parallels with human singing, it’s worth spelling out that all female gibbons achieve this remarkable capacity for self-amplification instinctively. Gibbon song is not learned – the ability is hard-wired.
By contrast, the opera singers to which the study’s title refers achieve a parallel ability only after careful training.
To hear the more effortlessly competent performance of a variety of gibbon species, a visit to Thomas Geissmann’s impressive gibbon research website is warmly recommended.
What comes next?
The research done by Nishimura and team opens up some fascinating avenues for follow-up studies, including:
replication with human subjects, both expert singers and non-singers
replication with other primate species (this is, apparently, underway)
play-back of the helium-condition calls to conspecifics (as well as being great vocalisers, gibbons are sophisticated listeners. The purpose of studying this area further would be to see whether other gibbons recognised in any way the humanly distorted recordings as gibbon-song)
One of the most interesting things about gibbon/human voice comparison is how easy it is for suitably uninhibited humans to elicit vocal responses from gibbons by imitating their song.
But gibbons safely contained behind barriers are remarkably tolerant of human attempts at their song. I have personal experience of this at Twycross Zoo in the UK and Perth Zoo in Australia. My youngest son, when a boy treble, was able to imitate female gibbon calls with considerable accuracy.
This seems consistent with his ability to perform the high-lying solos in works such as Allegri’s Miserere that require precisely the acoustic control explored in this study, and whose range conforms to that in which the gibbons sing most effectively.
So some investigation of similarities with the voices of pre-adolescents in both species might also be of interest, especially with a view to tracing the means by which the ability is acquired in gibbons.
While the gibbon call is clearly acquired as a means of high-intensity transmission that permits communication across distance in dense rainforest vegetation, I have heard gibbons “rehearsing” precisely the same songs quietly: a solitary female in an isolated pen at Twycross Zoo in the UK; and two juveniles in quarantine under the supervision of their curator at Perth Zoo in Australia.
This adds additional dimensions of the roles of energy and pragmatics to the findings of this study: it illustrates that, while gibbons are capable, much like human sopranos, of ear-splitting volume, they can also achieve the same calls quietly.
In “engineering” terms this means they can control breath-flow alongside the “tuning” effects already described.
Investigation of these features would be of interest in order to tease out implications of this study for the evolution of human language.
As the lush equatorial rainforests of South East Asia are exhausted, increasingly focus is being placed on parts of Central and South America. Oil Palm is a growing commodity there and is found in Colombia, Brazil,Ecuador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Peru, Belize, Guyana, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Palm oil giants are destroying #SouthAmerica. #PalmOil is a sending animals #extinct in #Colombia 🇨🇴#Brazil 🇧🇷#Ecuador 🇬🇹 #Guatemala 🇲🇽 #Mexico 🦜🦥🦎🐒 #RSPO “sustainable” #palmoil is a LIE. Instead please #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/20/south-america/
#Palmoil in #SouthAmerica is a causing #ecocide for #indigenous people and animals 🐅🦜🦅🐒🦥 in #Belize 🇧🇿 #Peru 🇵🇪#Brazil 🇧🇷 #Ecuador 🇪🇨 RSPO certification is #greenwashing! Resist for them! #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🩸⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/20/south-america/
South America: Species Endangered by Palm Oil Deforestation
A model of rainforest loss in the Amazon 2010 – 2260
The fertile rainforests of Latin America are home to some of the most exotic and unusual species of animals in the world. These animals must be protected at all costs. These animals have a IUCN Red List status of Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened and face a threat to their existence from palm oil deforestation, and deforestation from other commodities. Yet there is hope and there are a number of ways you can Take Action to Protect Them.
Palm Oil Detectives is completely self-funded by its creator. All hosting and website fees and investigations into brands are self-funded by the creator of this online movement. If you like what I am doing, you and would like me to help meet costs, please send Palm Oil Detectives a thanks on Ko-Fi.
New investigation in the Amazon documents impact of palm oil plantations on Indigenous communities –
Mongabay Newscast
Palm oil plantations look likely to become a new cause of deforestation and pollution across the Amazon: though companies say their supply chains are green and sustainable, critics in Brazil–including scientists & federal prosecutors–cite deforestation, chemical pollution, and human rights violations. Mongabay's Rio-based editor Karla Mendes investigated one such project in Para State and joins us to discuss the findings of her new report, Déjà vu as palm oil industry brings deforestation, pollution to Amazon. Beside the health toll of chemical sprays on Indigenous people whose land it encroaches, Mendes studied satellite imagery to disprove claims that the company only plants on land that's already been deforested. Also joining the show are a scientist who's documented contamination of water sources and related health impacts, Sandra Damiani from the University of Brasília, plus a federal prosecutor in the Amazon region, Felício Pontes Júnior, who is trying to hold palm oil companies accountable for polluting Indigenous communities. Palm oil is used in a huge array of consumer goods sold in most countries–from snacks to ice cream & shampoo—and is a main cause of rainforest loss in Africa and Southeast Asia. Now, the industry sees the Amazon as prime new ground. Episode artwork: Fresh palm oil fruit, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo courtesy of Nanang Sujana for CIFOR. Please invite your friends to subscribe to the Mongabay Newscast wherever they get podcasts, or download our free app in the Apple App Store or in the Google Store to have access to our latest episodes at your fingertips. If you enjoy the Newscast, please visit http://www.patreon.com/mongabay to pledge a dollar or more to keep the show growing, Mongabay is a nonproft media outlet and all support helps! Supporting at the $10/month level now delivers access to Insider Content at Mongabay.com, too, please visit the link above for details. See all our latest news from nature's frontline at Mongabay's homepage: news.mongabay.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by searching for @mongabay. Feedback is always welcome: submissions@mongabay.com.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered, Possibly Extinct
Location: Brazil
Found only in Pernambuco state, Brazil, this elusive owl inhabits the lowland humid forests of the Atlantic Forest biome in the Pernambuco Endemism Centre.
The Pernambuco Pygmy OwlGlaucidium mooreorum is among the rarest birds on Earth, known from just two museum specimens and a few recorded vocalisations. Officially described in 2002, this tiny owl is no larger than 13 cm and is likely the rarest bird in the world. They have not been sighted since 2001, and may already be extinct. Rampant #deforestation for sugarcane plantations, #palmoil, #soy and #meat and ongoing habitat destruction have decimated their native range. If this species still survives, fewer than 50 adults remain. The continued decimation of #Brazil’s Atlantic Forest leaves no margin for error. Act now to protect what remains. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat
The rarest owl in the world is the Pernambuco Pygmy #owl. Maybe now #extinct due to massive forest loss in #Brazil 🇧🇷 from #meat 🥩 #palmoil 🌴 #soy 🥜 and #sugarcane #deforestation Help them and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/20/pernambuco-pygmy-owl-glaucidium-mooreorum/
Also known as the caburé-de-pernambuco, the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl is a delicately patterned raptor with a light grey-chestnut crown and chestnut back. Their face and head are speckled with brilliant white spots, giving them an alert, watchful look, while their white collar and white underparts are streaked with rufous. Their short tail is dark with distinct broken white bars. The species emits a short series of 5–7 sharp notes, rising in pitch—its call echoing faintly through the forest. They are most vocally active during the rainy season in April and May.
Diet
The only documented observation of the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl feeding describes one individual eating a large cicada. Like other pygmy owls, their diet likely includes insects, small reptiles, amphibians, and perhaps small birds and mammals.
Reproduction and Mating
Very little is known about the breeding habits of this elusive owl. Their peak vocal activity during April and May suggests this could be their mating season, aligned with the onset of the wet season in the Atlantic Forest. No nests or juveniles have ever been observed.
Geographic Range
This owl is endemic to the Pernambuco state of northeastern Brazil. All known records come from lowland secondary forest within the Reserva Biológica de Saltinho and another site nearby, both below 150 metres in elevation. These forests are part of the Atlantic Forest’s Pernambuco Endemism Centre—a region that has lost over 95% of its native vegetation. No confirmed sightings have occurred since 2001 despite extensive targeted surveys.
• Hunting and human persecution may still pose a threat.
• The species’ extremely limited range makes them highly vulnerable to extinction.
Take Action!
Help stop the extinction of rare and beautiful species like the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl. Boycott palm oil and industrial agriculture that fuel deforestation across South America. Support indigenous-led agroecology efforts and forest restoration projects. Speak out against deforestation and habitat loss in Brazil.
If the species is still extant, the IUCN estimates there are fewer than 50 mature individuals. Extensive surveys between 2001 and 2019 have failed to confirm any new sightings, raising the possibility of extinction (BirdLife International, 2021).
What is the lifespan of the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl?
While there are no specific studies on this species’ lifespan, similar pygmy owls in the Glaucidium genus live between 6 to 10 years in the wild. However, intense threats and habitat degradation significantly shorten survival rates for any remaining individuals.
Why is the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl so endangered?
Their home—the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism—has suffered one of the worst deforestation rates in the entire Atlantic Forest. By 2002, just 1,900 km² of forest remained, down from nearly 40,000 km². Much of this forest has been fragmented or destroyed by sugarcane monocultures. Logging, fire, and inadequate legal enforcement continue to devastate the landscape (Silva et al., 2002; Butchart et al., 2018).
What can be done to save the Pernambuco Pygmy Owl?
Protecting and restoring remaining forest patches is crucial. The original researchers proposed creating ecological corridors to connect isolated forest fragments and implementing regional land planning focused on biocultural preservation. Agroecological approaches led by local communities may offer the best hope for long-term recovery.
The Pernambuco Center, where this species was described, is by far the most modified region of Atlantic Forest, having declined in extent from c. 39,500 km2 to c. 1,900 km2 by 2002. Most of the 52 remaining reserves are less than 5 km2 in size and almost none of this truly lowland (Butchart et al. 2018). Large amounts of forest were cleared to make way for plantations and agriculture (Pereira et al. 2014). The remainder is severely fragmented and legal restrictions have proven inadequate in halting deforestation from fire and illegal logging.
Silva, J. M. C., Coelho, G., & Gonzaga, L. P. (2002). Discovered on the brink of extinction: A new species of Pygmy-Owl (Strigidae: Glaucidium) from Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254805348
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The Pied Tamarin lives in primary forests and in small fragments of secondary forests. In primary forests like Reserva Ducke the density is lower than in small fragments (Gordo 2012). They eat fruits, nectar, plants and animal prey (including frogs, lizards, eggs, small birds, spiders and insects). They live in extended family groups of four to 15 individuals. They are critically endangered from palm oil, soy, meat and gold mining deforestation throughout their range. Help them every time you shop and #BoycottGold4Yanomami, #Boycottpalmoil #boycott4wildlife
Pied #Tamarins are critically #endangered, threats incl. massive #deforestation in #Brazil 🇧🇷 for #palmoil 🌴🙊⛔️#beef 🐮🥩⛔️ and gold. Help them to survive #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife #BoycottGold! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/20/pied-tamarin-saguinus-bicolor/
Pied #tamarins are unique matriarchal #monkeys of #Brazil, led by 1 female in small troops 🐒🩷 #Gold #palmoil #soy and #meat #deforestation are decimating them. Fight for them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🚫 #BoycottGold 🥇🚫#Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/20/pied-tamarin-saguinus-bicolor/
The principal threats to the Pied Tamarin include deforestation and habitat fragmentation related to expanding rural settlements and agriculture, livestock production, urban development, an expanding energy matrix and road network, all within this species’ concentrated range in the vicinity of Manaus, the state capital of Amazonas.
IUCN Red List
Name, IUCN Status, and Locations
Pied Tamarin Saguinus bicolor Red List: Critically Endangered Locations: Brazil – restricted to the forests surrounding Manaus in Amazonas, north of the Rio Amazonas and east of the Rio Negro.
Mist rises over the fragmented forests around Manaus, where the Pied Tamarin clings to survival in one of the smallest and most threatened ranges of any primate on Earth.
Pied #Tamarins are fascinating and vibrant black-faced #monkeys with a shock of white fur around their muzzle and chest and expressive brown eyes. They are found only in the shrinking forests of Manaus, #Brazil. As bulldozers carve roads and cities sprawl, their home is being destroyed for #palmoil, #soy, #beef farming, #gold #mining, and relentless urban expansion. These tamarins also face threats from disease, predators, and the illegal pet trade. Use your wallet as a weapon and BoycottPalmOil, Boycott4Wildlife, BoycottGold4Yanomami, and be #Vegan to help their survival.
Appearance and Behaviour
Pied Tamarins are instantly recognisable, with their hairless black faces, large “bat-like” ears, and fluffy white bodies contrasting with dark brown hindquarters and tails. Males and females look alike, measuring 20–28 cm in body length with tails up to 42 cm, and weighing around 400–450 g. Their hands and feet end in sharp claws, not nails, perfect for gripping branches and extracting gum from trees. Groups range from 2 to 15, led by a dominant female who is the only breeder. Their society is matriarchal and highly cooperative—males and siblings help care for the young, carrying twins through the canopy. Pied Tamarins are avid communicators, using a rich repertoire of chirps, trills, and even ultra-quiet “tsê” signals, some so soft that only spectrograms reveal them. They scent-mark their territory and use long calls to warn rivals or find lost group members. Curious and clever, they navigate a world of danger—dodging power lines, dogs, cats, and the ever-present threat of capture.
Threats
Deforestation and habitat fragmentation
The Pied Tamarin’s forest home is disappearing fast as Manaus expands. Palm oil, soy, beef, and gold mining drive relentless forest clearing, leaving only tiny, isolated patches. Urban sprawl and pollution make survival harder, and even protected areas are shrinking. Food is scarce in these fragments, and social groups of pied tamarins are split apart. With over 80% of their range set to vanish in less than two decades, extinction in the wild is a real risk.
Infrastructure projects and roads
New roads and power lines slice through the remaining forests, forcing Pied Tamarins to cross dangerous open spaces. Many are killed by vehicles or electrocuted on wires. Construction brings more people, noise, and pollution, making the forest even less safe. These projects also open the door for more logging and poaching, speeding up the loss of habitat.
Illegal pet trade and human persecution
Pied Tamarins are captured for the illegal pet trade, with infants sold in markets and many dying from stress. The pet trade tears apart family groups and leaves survivors vulnerable. Some tamarins are also hunted or killed as pests, and wildlife protection laws are poorly enforced. Every animal taken from the wild pushes the population lower.
Competition with golden-handed tamarins
Golden-handed tamarins are moving into Pied Tamarin territory and outcompeting them for food and space. These rivals thrive in disturbed habitats, pushing Pied Tamarins into smaller, less suitable fragments.
Predation by domestic dogs and cats
Wild cats, birds of prey, and snakes hunt Pied Tamarins, but domestic dogs and cats are now major threats in urban areas. With less forest cover, tamarins are easier targets. Every attack can break up a group and make survivors more cautious and isolated.
Disease
Pied Tamarins are highly vulnerable to a range of diseases, especially in fragmented habitats near cities. They can contract toxoplasmosis from stray cats and rodents, which can be fatal and has caused outbreaks in captive tamarins. Callitrichid hepatitis, caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), is another serious threat, leading to sudden deaths in both wild and captive populations. Chronic diarrhoea and weight loss, often linked to marmoset wasting syndrome (MWS), are common in captive groups and associated with changes in gut bacteria, including overgrowth of Helicobacter and Lactobacillus species. Pied Tamarins also face risks from colitis and septic infections like tularemia, as well as general vulnerability to new pathogens introduced by domestic animals and humans.
Diet
Pied Tamarins are omnivores, feasting on fruits, nectar, flowers, plant gums, insects, spiders, frogs, lizards, bird eggs, and even small birds. Their sharp claws and teeth are perfect for gouging tree bark to extract gum, a crucial food in the dry season. By eating a wide variety of foods, they help disperse seeds and control insect populations, playing a vital role in the forest ecosystem. In captivity, they are sensitive to diet changes, and breeding success is linked to proper nutrition.
Reproduction and Mating
Pied Tamarins live in female-led groups, with only the dominant female breeding. She releases pheromones that suppress the fertility of other females. Mating is polyandrous—the dominant female mates with several males, and usually gives birth to twins after a gestation of about five months. The whole group helps raise the young, with males and siblings carrying infants and returning them to the mother to nurse. Breeding occurs mainly from March to May, but can happen year-round. In the wild, lifespan is uncertain but likely less than 10 years due to constant threats; in captivity, some live over a decade.
Geographic Range
The Pied Tamarin’s range is one of the smallest of any primate, limited to the forests around Manaus, north of the Rio Amazonas and east of the Rio Negro. Surveys show they rarely occur more than 35 km from Manaus, and are now absent from much of their former range due to deforestation and competition with golden-handed tamarins. Their last strongholds are small, degraded forest patches, some less than 10 hectares, surrounded by roads, suburbs, and farmland. Even in protected areas like Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve and Sumaúma State Park, their numbers are falling as the city expands.
FAQs
What is the current population of the Pied Tamarin?
The Pied Tamarin population is estimated at fewer than 500 mature individuals in the wild, with a projected decline of over 80% within the next 18 years. Most groups survive in tiny, degraded fragments, often below the threshold needed for long-term survival. Captive populations exist, but breeding is challenging and does not offset wild losses. The National Action Plan aims to secure at least eight viable populations, each with at least 500 individuals, but this goal remains distant. Without urgent, large-scale habitat protection, extinction in the wild is a real risk.
How long do Pied Tamarins live?
In the wild, Pied Tamarins likely live less than 10 years due to predation, disease, and urban hazards. In captivity, some individuals survive over a decade, but stress and poor diet can shorten their lives. Females can breed from about two years old, but only the dominant female in each group reproduces. The high infant mortality rate in fragmented habitats further reduces average lifespan. Captive breeding programmes have had limited success, with many infants failing to survive. The constant threat of electrocution, road kills, and attacks by dogs or cats makes wild survival especially precarious.
What are the threats to the Pied Tamarin’s survival?
Pied Tamarins face a perfect storm of threats: rampant deforestation for palm oil, soy, beef, and gold mining; relentless urban expansion; direct competition from golden-handed tamarins; and daily dangers from dogs, cats, disease, and electrocution. The illegal pet trade rips infants from their families and fuels further decline. Fragmented habitats mean less food, fewer safe nesting sites, and higher stress. Even protected areas are under pressure as Manaus grows. Climate change and environmental instability only add to their vulnerability. Every threat is magnified by their tiny, shrinking range.
Does the Pied Tamarin make a good pet?
No absolutely NOT. Pied Tamarins are highly social, sensitive primates who suffer extreme stress, loneliness, and early death in captivity. The illegal pet trade destroys family groups, causes immense suffering, and drives the species closer to extinction. Captive tamarins often develop health and behavioural problems, and most do not survive long. Removing tamarins from the wild for pets is illegal and unethical, and fuels the ongoing decline of the species. The best way to help is to support indigenous-led protection of their habitat and refuse to buy wild animals as pets.
What can you do to help the Pied Tamarin?
You can make a difference by boycotting palm oil, soy, and beef products linked to Amazon deforestation. Refuse to buy gold mined from the Amazon, and never support the illegal pet trade. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology projects that protect and restore the forests around Manaus. Share the story of the Pied Tamarin to raise awareness and pressure governments to enforce habitat protections. Advocate for urban wildlife corridors and safe crossings to reduce road kills and electrocutions. Every action you take helps keep the forests alive for the Pied Tamarin and countless other species.
Take Action!
The Pied Tamarin is Critically Endangered with a projected population reduction of 80% or more in the next 18 years (three generations) due to grave multiple threats. Deforestation and habitat fragmentation related to expanding rural settlements and soy, palm oil and meat agriculture, urban development, an expanding energy matrix and road network and routine collection for the pet trade. Help them to survive and every time you shop andBoycottPalmOil. Boycott4Wildlife. BoycottGold4Yanomami.
Gordo, M., Jerusalinsky, L., Mittermeier, R.A., Rohe, F., Boubli, J., Subirá, R. & Vidal, M. 2019. Saguinus bicolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T40644A17931870. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T40644A17931870.en. Downloaded on 16 February 2021.
Lagroteria, D., Cavalcante, T., Zuquim, G., Röhe, F., Medeiros, A. S. M., Hrbek, T., & Gordo, M. (2024). Assessing the invasive potential of Saguinus midas in the extent of occurrence of the critically endangered Saguinus bicolor. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, Article 1426488. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1426488
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More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
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Caquetá Titi Monkeys have a distinctive song and they purr like a kitten they form monogamous partnerships. Discovered relatively recently in 2010, these beautiful and fascinating monkeys are now critically endangered due to the massive deforestation that is occurring in Colombia for palm oil and other commodities. It is believed that fewer than 100 individuals Caquetá Titi Monkeys are left in the wild and fewer than 50 mature individuals. The habitat of the Caquetá Titi Monkeys is in an advanced state of fragmentation caused by extensive cattle ranching and illegal crop cultivation. Fight for them and resist greed and greenwashing when you be #vegan #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife
It’s suspected that there are fewer than 100 individuals Caquetá Titi Monkeys left in the wild and fewer than 50 mature individuals. The habitat of the Caquetá Titi Monkeys is in an advanced state of fragmentation caused by extensive ranching and illegal crop cultivation.
IUCN Red List
The Caquetá titi monkey Plecturocebus caquetensis is a rare and endearing primate known for its monogamous pair bonds and harmonious duets. Found only in Colombia’s Caquetá region, these small monkeys are an emblem of the country’s rich biodiversity. Tragically, their populations are critically endangered due to extensive deforestation, agricultural expansion, and climate change-driven habitat loss.
The Caquetá titi monkey is a small, endearing primate of under 40 cm in length with soft, reddish-brown fur around their mouths, expressive eyes and a white face which gives them a striking, doll-like appearance. Their dark, bushy tails—longer than their bodies—are perfect for balancing as they navigate the forest canopy.
What truly sets them apart is their unique duet vocalisations, akin to kitten purring or gentle hums. These sounds between bonded pairs are a testament to the deep bonds shared between them. Their soft, melodic exchanges ripple through their forest home in Caquetá, Colombia, reinforcing their connection and marking their territory.
Caquetá titis are arboreal primates who spend most of their time in the treetops, although they may descend to the forest floor during drier months. Their behaviour shifts with the seasons, showcasing their adaptability and quiet resilience in a rapidly changing environment.
Threats
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (Defler et al., 2020).
This species is listed as Critically Endangered because of a population decline, suspected to be more than 80% over 24 years (three generations), due to a reduction of the area of occupation caused by extensive ranching and illegal crop cultivation, and the causes of the reduction have certainly not stopped.
IUCN Red LIST
The primary threats to the Caquetá titi monkey include:
• Habitat loss: Over 90% of their habitat has been cleared due to cattle ranching and coca cultivation (Defler et al., 2020).
• Climate change: Shifting habitats and reduced availability of suitable areas have led to further fragmentation (Arias-González et al., 2023).
• Small population size: The species is limited to fragmented patches of forest, leaving them genetically isolated and vulnerable (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).
Diet
Caquetá titi monkeys are frugivores, consuming a diet primarily of fruits, complemented by seeds, flowers, and occasionally insects. Their dietary habits are closely linked to the seasonal availability of fruiting plants, which influences their movement patterns and foraging behaviour (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).
Reproduction and Mating
These monkeys are known for their monogamous relationships, with pairs forming lifelong bonds. Females typically give birth to a single offspring after a gestation period of about five months. Males are actively involved in raising the young, carrying them and sharing feeding responsibilities (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).
Geographic Range
Endemic to Colombia, the Caquetá titi monkey inhabits small, fragmented forest patches in the Caquetá region. Their distribution is highly restricted, and they rely heavily on riparian forest corridors for survival (Arias-González et al., 2023).
FAQ
How many Caquetá titi monkeys are left?
Fewer than 250 individuals remain in the wild, making them one of the most endangered primates in the world (Defler et al., 2020). The fragmented nature of their habitat exacerbates their vulnerability, highlighting the need for immediate conservation action.
What does the Caquetá titi monkey eat?
Primarily frugivorous, their diet is made up of a variety of fruits, seeds, and occasionally insects. Seasonal changes in fruit availability influence their foraging patterns, and habitat loss threatens their food sources (Acero Murcia et al., 2024).
Why are they critically endangered?
Rampant deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and agricultural expansion have decimated their habitat. Additionally, climate change has further reduced their viable habitats, making them critically endangered (Arias-González et al., 2023).
What is the rarest titi monkey?
The Caquetá titi monkey is considered one of the rarest titi species due to its limited population and highly fragmented habitat (Souza-Alves et al., 2023).
What role do they play in the ecosystem?
As seed dispersers, Caquetá titi monkeys play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity and regeneration of their rainforest ecosystem (Souza-Alves et al., 2023).
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Arias-González, C., González-Maya, J. F., García-Villalba, J., Blázquez, M. C., Arreola Lizárraga, J. A., Díaz Castro, S. C., & Ortega Rubio, A. (2023). The identification and conservation of climate refugia for two Colombian endemic titi (Plecturocebus) monkeys. Journal for Nature Conservation, 72, Article 126345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126345
Souza-Alves, J. P., Boyle, S. A., & Barnett, A. A. (2023). Knowledge shortfalls for titi monkey: A poorly known clade of small-bodied South American primates. Biological Conservation, 286, Article 110256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110256
Defler, T.R., García-Gutiérrez, J., Stevenson, P.R., Guzmàn-Caro, D. & Palacios, E. 2020. Plecturocebus caquetensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T14699281A17974505. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T14699281A17974505.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
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The Blue-billed Curassow is endemic to Colombia, with remaining populations in the tropical forests of the Magdalena Valley, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Serranía de San Lucas. These birds inhabit lowland humid forests and fragmented secondary woodlands, clinging to survival in one of the world’s most deforested biodiversity hotspots.
The endearing Blue-billed Curassow Crax alberti is a unique bird of #Colombia currently classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List due to rapid habitat loss for multiple different cash crops and intense hunting pressures. Less than 2,500 mature individuals remain, with many subpopulations highly fragmented and isolated. A shy, ground-dwelling bird, Blue-billed Curassows plays an essential role in forest regeneration through #seeddispersal. But #timber, #meat, #goldmining, #coca plantations, and #palmoil agriculture have devoured more than 90% of their original range. Without urgent conservation action, this #bird faces imminent #extinction. Always choose products that are 100% #palmoilfree and go #vegan BoycottPalmOil, always #BoycottGold #Boycott4Wildlife
Stunning turkey-like #birds, blue-billed #Currasows 🪿🦜 are critically #endangered in #Colombia 🇨🇴 due to #PalmOil, illegal #Coca, soy and meat #deforestation. Help them and be #vegan 🥩🩸⛔️ #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/18/blue-billed-curassow-crax-alberti/
A beautiful and colourful #bird 🦜🕊️ the blue-billed #Currasow of #Colombia faces a plethora of serious threats incl. illegal #GoldMining 🩸🔥⛔️ and #PalmOil. Help them when and #BoycottGold #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🩸🚜🔥🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/18/blue-billed-curassow-crax-alberti/
The Blue-billed Curassow is a striking, turkey-sized bird with glossy black plumage in males and a striking pale blue cere at the base of their bill, from which the species takes their name. Females are distinguished by their rufous-brown underparts and barred tails. Both sexes feature a curled crest of black feathers atop their heads, adding to their dramatic appearance (Shanahan, 2017).
They are shy and elusive birds, preferring to forage alone or in pairs along the forest floor. Observations in El Paujil Bird Reserve noted that they forage by scratching leaf litter for fallen fruit, seeds, invertebrates, shoots, and occasionally carrion or even terrestrial crabs (Urueña, 2008a; Melo et al., 2008). Roosting sites are usually located in tree foliage close to feeding areas and reused for several days (Hirschfeld, 2008).
Diet
The Blue-billed Curassow is an omnivore. Its diet is mainly composed of fruit and seeds, but it also consumes invertebrates such as insects, shoots, and occasionally carrion. A recent survey documented seed consumption from at least 15 plant species, as well as one record of terrestrial crab consumption (Urueña, 2008a; Quevedo et al., 2005).
Reproduction and Mating
Breeding occurs primarily in the dry season, with nests observed between December and March. However, studies in the El Paujil Bird Reserve noted a possible second breeding season from July to September (Urueña, 2008b). Clutches typically contain two to three eggs. As with other cracids, both parents may play a role in chick rearing. In the wild, families with chicks are typically observed during March through August (Cuervo & Salaman, 1999).
Geographic Range
Endemic to Colombia, the Blue-billed Curassow once roamed vast tracts of humid lowland forest throughout the northwestern Andes. Now, it persists only in fragmented patches across the Magdalena Valley, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and the Serranía de San Lucas (Valencia et al., 2023; IUCN, 2023).
Historically, over 90% of its potential range has been cleared or degraded due to deforestation for agriculture, coca plantations, and ranching (Melo et al., 2008). One GIS analysis estimated a 39% loss in potential distribution between 1986 and 2002 alone, with an annual deforestation rate of 2.4% (Melo et al., 2008).
Threats
• Deforestation for agriculture and livestock is the most significant threat to the survival of the Blue-billed Curassow. Almost 90% of their tropical forest habitat in northern Colombia has been cleared or severely degraded due to cattle ranching, rice cultivation, cotton production, palm oil, soy and coca plantations. These activities have fragmented the curassow’s range into isolated patches too small to support viable populations.
• The illegal pet trade and commercial hunting pose a grave threat. Curassows are hunted for meat and occasionally captured for the illegal pet trade. Surveys in Antioquia reported at least 57 individuals killed between 2002 and 2003, mostly during the breeding season, exacerbating their population decline (Melo et al., 2008). Hunting pressure remains high in rural communities surrounding the few remaining forest patches (Cabarcas et al., 2008).
• Political instability and post-conflict development have further imperilled the species. Ironically, decades of civil conflict prevented large-scale deforestation in some remote regions by limiting access to armed groups. However, peace agreements have led to rapid expansion of agriculture, mining, and logging into formerly inaccessible forests, especially in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Serranía de San Lucas—key strongholds for the species (Shanahan, 2017; Negret et al., 2017).
• Illegal gold mining and drug production have escalated forest destruction and brought with them roads, settlements, and deforestation. The 1996 gold rush in the Serranía de San Lucas resulted in widespread logging and land clearance for coca production. Subsequent government herbicide spraying has further damaged ecosystems essential for the curassow’s survival (Cuervo & Salaman, 1999; Melo et al., 2008).
• Habitat fragmentation has reduced the availability of forest patches larger than 3 km², which are considered the minimum size needed to support a viable population of Crax alberti (Melo et al., 2008). This has severely disrupted dispersal, gene flow, and nesting success.
• Infrastructure projects, such as highways, act as barriers between populations. For example, the Santa Marta-Riohacha Highway isolates birds in Tayrona National Park from those in the nearby Sierra Nevada foothills, reducing connectivity and increasing local extinction risks (Strewe et al., 2010).
• Low reproductive success in captivity threatens the future of ex-situ conservation. As of 2021, there were only 27 Blue-billed Curassows in Colombian zoos, most of them ageing. Only one male was actively breeding, making captive-breeding efforts challenging and precarious (Dueñas Flórez, 2021).
Take Action!
Help protect the Blue-billed Curassow by refusing to support deforestation-linked products and industries. Boycott palm oil, logging, and industrial meat farming, all of which fuel forest loss. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts in Colombia and ecotourism models that empower local communities while preserving habitat. Take action and use your wallet as a weapon! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat
FAQs
How many Blue-billed Curassows are left in the wild?
According to the IUCN Red List, there are estimated to be between 150 and 700 individuals remaining in the wild (IUCN, 2023) they are tragically critically endangered. Other sources suggest the total may be as high as 2,500 mature individuals when including fragmented populations across different reserves and national parks.
What is the lifespan of a Blue-billed Curassow?
In the wild, the lifespan is not well documented due to their elusive nature, but it is thought to be around 15–20 years, similar to other large cracids. In captivity, individuals may live longer depending on conditions and veterinary care (Melo et al., 2008).
What are the predators of the Blue-billed Curassow?
Natural predators include large birds of prey and terrestrial mammals such as jaguars and ocelots. However, human hunting remains the dominant threat, particularly targeting adults during breeding season and young birds for food and captivity (Melo et al., 2008; Cabarcas et al., 2008).
Why is the Blue-billed Curassow critically endangered?
This species has suffered catastrophic declines due to habitat destruction, especially from logging, palm oil agriculture, coca plantations, and mining. Additionally, hunting for bushmeat and egg collection has further reduced population numbers. The fragmentation of remaining populations also increases their vulnerability to extinction (Valencia et al., 2023).
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Melo, I., Ochoa-Quintero, J. M., López-Arévalo, H. F., & Velásquez-Sandino, P. (2008). Potential habitat loss and subsistence hunting of Blue-billed Curassow (Crax alberti), a Colombian critically endangered endemic bird. Caldasia, 30(1), 161–177.
Valencia, I. F., Kattan, G. H., Valenzuela, L., Caro, L., Arbelaez, F., & Forero-Medina, G. (2023). Evaluation of alternative conservation strategies for the blue-billed curassow Crax alberti in the Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia. Oryx, 57(2), 239–247. doi:10.1017/S0030605322000060
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Locations: Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India
The King #Cobra 🐍 is the serpentine king 👑🌳 of the jungle in #Thailand #India #Cambodia 🇮🇳 🇹🇭🇰🇭 they’re #vulnerable due to #palmoil #deforestation and human persecution 😿 Protect them when you #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/17/king-cobra-ophiophagus-hannah/
Like #Kaa from #JungleBook, King #Cobras have a hypnotic demeanor of lethal beauty. The largest venomous snake is also the most persecuted 😿🐍💚 #Vulnerable from #palmoil and other #deforestation. #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🔥⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/17/king-cobra-ophiophagus-hannah/
Known as the serpentine king of the jungle in South East Asia, and inspiration for the villain Kaa in the Jungle Book, the King Cobra lives in many different environments, including pristine forests, degraded forests, mangroves, swamps and woodlands of #Thailand, #Cambodia, #Malaysia, #Laos, #Vietnam, #Bangladesh and #India. Their main threat is human-wildlife conflict and ongoing persecution. Palm oil deforestation and other agricultural expansion is also a big threat throughout their range. The world’s largest venomous #snake has a neurotoxic bite powerful enough to kill twenty people or an adult elephant. Sadly, these majestic creatures are persecuted for this reason and do not have adequate protection. Help them every time you shop and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife
The King Cobra lives in a variety of habitats, primarily in pristine forests, but they can also be found in degraded forest, mangrove swamps and even agricultural areas with remnants of woodland.
Threats
This species is threatened by destruction of habitat due to logging and agricultural expansion for palm oil, as Southeast Asia is experiencing one of the highest rates of deforestation in the tropics (Sodhi et al. 2009) and this species appears to be most abundant in forested habitats. This species is harvested for skin, food, and especially medicinal purposes in China. They are heavily harvested for the medicinal trade in many parts of their range, particularly Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar, both for domestic purposes and for export to China.
These snakes have also been found swimming in rivers in non-forested land and probably occurs in palm oil plantations (R. Inger pers. comm. 2010), however it is not yet clear whether oil palm plantations can support viable populations of this species (M. Auliya pers. Comm. 2011). This species is threatened by destruction of habitat due to logging and agricultural expansion
Further Information
Stuart, B., Wogan, G., Grismer, L., Auliya, M., Inger, R.F., Lilley, R., Chan-Ard, T., Thy, N., Nguyen, T.Q., Srinivasulu, C. & Jelić, D. 2012. Ophiophagus hannah. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T177540A1491874. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T177540A1491874.en. Downloaded on 16 February 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Location: West Africa – Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia
The Western Red Colobus Piliocolobus badius is one of West Africa’s most #endangered #primates, facing an escalating crisis of habitat loss and overhunting. Once abundant in mature forests across the region, they have been driven to the brink of #extinction by rampant deforestation for charcoal, palm oil and mining and the increasing demand for #bushmeat. Widespread clearing of forests for industrial #palmoil plantations, #mining, and #timber has fragmented their habitat, isolating populations and making them more vulnerable to #poaching. Without urgent intervention, their future remains uncertain. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
One of #WestAfrica and the world’s most endangered #primates 🐵you’ve never heard of is the enchanting Western Red #Colobus of #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 #Liberia 🇱🇷 #PalmOil 🌴☠️ and #poaching are major threats. #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/western-red-colobus-piliocolobus-badius/
Western Red Colobus are striking primates with a rich reddish-orange coat, contrasting with a darker face and limbs. They are highly social and live in large multi-male, multi-female groups of up to 90 individuals. Their interactions are characterised by grooming, play, and cooperative care of young, which strengthens group cohesion. Unlike some primates, they rely on an intricate vocal system to communicate, warning each other of danger and coordinating group movements.
Primarily arboreal, they move gracefully through the forest canopy, favouring mature, old-growth trees. However, in more northern populations, they have been observed travelling and foraging on the ground, a behaviour that may be increasing due to habitat destruction.
Diet
Western Red Colobus have a specialised diet consisting mainly of fruit, seeds, and young leaves. Unlike many other primates, they rely heavily on digesting leaves, which are fermented in their complex stomachs. This adaptation allows them to survive in environments where fruit is less abundant.
In degraded forests where food availability is low, these primates have been observed consuming cultivated crops such as mango, indicating a level of dietary flexibility. However, reliance on human-grown food brings them into conflict with local communities, increasing their vulnerability to persecution.
The diet of the Western Red Colobus (Piliocolobus badius) and other primates in Africa is shaped by food availability and environmental changes, with significant variation across different regions and seasons. DNA studies have revealed a diverse diet comprising a high richness of plant species, though individuals in fragmented forests consume a greater variety of plants than those in well-preserved habitats. In Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau, 11% of their diet consists of cultivated foods like mango, highlighting their adaptability to human-altered landscapes. However, the long-term consequences of these dietary shifts remain unclear, raising concerns about their ability to sustain populations in degraded habitats (Aleixo-Pais et al., 2023).
Threats
Palm oil, charcoal and mining deforestation
The expansion of industrial palm oil plantations in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Guinea has destroyed vast tracts of forest, replacing diverse ecosystems with monoculture plantations. These plantations provide no habitat for wildlife, forcing colobus monkeys and other African primates such as mandrills and colobuses into increasingly smaller and more fragmented forest patches where survival is difficult.
Hunting for bushmeat
Western Red Colobus are one of the most heavily hunted primate species in West Africa. Their trusting nature and slow movement make them easy targets for hunters. In Guinea-Bissau alone, nearly 200 individuals are killed each dry season to supply urban bushmeat markets. Similar levels of hunting occur across their range, with skins also being sold for ritualistic practices.
Logging and habitat destruction
Deforestation through logging, charcoal production, palm oil and mining has significantly reduced the Western Red Colobus’ habitat. Forest loss in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea has been among the fastest in the world, with Côte d’Ivoire alone losing 17% of its forest cover between 2000 and 2015. Many areas designated as “protected” no longer contain forest, having been converted to plantations.
Civil conflict and human-wildlife conflict
Decades of civil unrest in Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have devastated conservation efforts, allowing illegal hunting and habitat destruction to go unchecked. Additionally, as forests disappear, colobus monkeys are increasingly forced to enter agricultural land, where they are viewed as pests and killed in retaliation.
Reproduction and mating
Western Red Colobus do not have a fixed breeding season, and infants are born throughout the year. Newborns are highly dependent on their mothers, clinging to them for warmth and security. While mothers provide most of the direct care, other females in the group often assist in carrying and grooming the young.
Males play a more protective role, defending the group from predators and external threats. Unlike some primates, they do not exhibit strong territorial behaviour but will vocalise aggressively and form defensive group formations when threatened.
Geographic range
Western Red Colobus are found in fragmented populations across West Africa, including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia. They primarily inhabit primary and secondary forests but can also be found in gallery forests, mangroves, and occasionally in human-modified landscapes.
FAQs
Why are Western Red Colobus endangered?
They are primarily threatened by habitat destruction due to palm oil plantations, logging, and mining, combined with intensive hunting for the bushmeat trade.
Do Western Red Colobus monkeys make good pets?
No. Keeping them as pets is both illegal and unethical. They are highly social, arboreal primates that require vast forest habitats to survive. The illegal pet trade further threatens their already declining populations.
Where can Western Red Colobus be found?
These primates are found in West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. However, their populations are highly fragmented.
Are Western Red Colobus aggressive?
They are not typically aggressive towards humans but will display defensive behaviours if they feel threatened. They rely on vocalisations and group defence rather than physical confrontation.
How can we help Western Red Colobus?
Protecting their remaining habitat, banning hunting, and supporting conservation efforts are critical to ensuring their survival. Consumers can also help by boycotting products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil and timber.
Take Action!
The fate of the Western Red Colobus and other African primates is inextricably tied to the choices people make every day. By rejecting products that contain palm oil and supporting organisations fighting against illegal hunting and deforestation, individuals can help protect these remarkable primates. Conservation groups working in West Africa urgently need funding and international pressure to push governments to enforce anti-hunting laws and preserve remaining forests. Use your voice and purchasing power to demand change. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
In both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, more than half of the closed forest in the forest reserves has been converted to plantation or farmland, or cleared and left bare (Bitty et al. 2015).
Aleixo-Pais, et. al. (2023). Dietary flexibility of western red colobus in two protected areas with contrasting anthropogenic pressure. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 11, 1280277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1280277
McGraw, S., Minhós, T., Bersacola, E., Ferreira da Silva, M.J., Galat, G., Galat-Luong, A., Gonedelé Bi, S., Mayhew, M., Oates, J.F. & Starin, E.D. 2020. Piliocolobus badius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T161247840A161259430. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T161247840A161259430.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
The Timneh Parrot, a smaller and darker cousin of the African Grey Parrot, captivates with their intelligence, vibrant personalities, and ability to mimic speech. However, their beauty and charm have contributed to their decline. The illegal pet trade is depleting wild populations, with poachers raiding nests to meet global demand. Meanwhile, habitat destruction driven by out-of-control palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco is eroding their forest homes.
Research shows that the parrot trade, facilitated by social media, has expanded into new regions like Algeria, where demand for exotic pets continues to fuel poaching. The population declines are staggering—studies in Cameroon show local reductions of up to 99% over 14 years due to trapping and habitat loss. Protecting these parrots requires ending the demand for wild-caught birds and halting deforestation in West Africa. Take action today: #BoycottPalmOil, boycott the pet trade #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.
Smart and beautiful Timneh #Parrots 🦜💚live in #CoteDIvoire 🇨🇮 #SierraLeone 🇸🇱 they’re endangered from the illegal #pet trade #palmoil and #mining #deforestation. They deserve better! Fight for them #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/timneh-parrot-psittacus-timneh/
Timneh #Parrots 🦜💚 are endangered due to people’s selfishness, wanting them as #pets driving illegal trade. Boycott the #PetTrade for them! #PalmOil is another threat to their forest in #WestAfrica. #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/timneh-parrot-psittacus-timneh/
This species has been uplisted to Endangered because it is subject to heavy trapping pressure across much of its range. In combination with the high rate of ongoing habitat loss, the species is therefore suspected to be declining rapidly over three generations (47 years).
IUCN Red List
Appearance and Behaviour
Timneh Parrots are smaller than African Greys, measuring 28–33 cm in length and weighing 275–375 grams. Their smoky grey plumage is complemented by maroon tail feathers and an ivory-coloured upper mandible, giving them a subtle but elegant appearance.
Highly intelligent and social, Timneh Parrots thrive in flocks, using a range of vocalisations to communicate. Known for their exceptional ability to mimic human speech, they are sought after as pets, which is contributing massively to their population decline in the wild. In their forest home where they belong, their vocal talents serve a vital role in maintaining flock cohesion and avoiding predators.
Threats
Capture for the Illegal Pet Trade:
The global demand for Timneh Parrots as exotic pets is the primary driver of their decline. Social media platforms have exacerbated this issue by making it easier for poachers and traders to connect with buyers. Research published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research highlights the growing role of online platforms in the parrot trade in Algeria, a region where this market is expanding rapidly. Poachers often destroy nests to capture chicks, causing irreparable harm to wild populations.
Palm oil, cocoa, meat and coffee deforestation:
Expansion of palm oil plantations, meat agriculture, and crops like cocoa, coffee, and tobacco are devastating the forests of West Africa. These activities fragment and degrade the lowland forests and mangroves that Timneh Parrots rely on for nesting and feeding.
Trapping for the Pet Trade Leading to Massive Population Loss:
Research published in the African Journal of Ecology confirms catastrophic population losses in regions like Cameroon’s Korup National Park, where grey parrot populations (including Timneh Parrots) have declined by 99% between 2002 and 2016. These declines are attributed to both trapping for the pet trade and extensive habitat loss.
Hunting for Bush Meat:
In addition to the pet trade, Timneh Parrots are hunted for bushmeat or kept as pets in local communities. This practice, while small-scale, compounds the pressures on their dwindling populations.
Extreme Weather from Climate Change:
Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures from climate change disrupt the ecosystems these parrots depend on, further limiting their already fragmented habitats.
Diet
Timneh Parrots are frugivores and granivores, feeding on a diet of seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries. Their role as seed dispersers is critical to forest health. By consuming fruit and scattering seeds over wide areas, they help regenerate forests and maintain biodiversity. The loss of these parrots would have cascading effects on the ecosystems they support.
Reproduction and Mating
Timneh Parrots nest in tree cavities, laying 2–4 eggs that are incubated for approximately 28–30 days. Both parents participate in raising the chicks, which fledge around 10–12 weeks after hatching.
Suitable nesting sites are increasingly scarce due to deforestation and logging, leaving parrots to compete for the few remaining mature trees. This scarcity directly impacts their reproductive success, pushing them closer to extinction.
Geographic Range
Timneh Parrots are endemic to West Africa, with a range spanning Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and western Côte d’Ivoire. They inhabit lowland rainforests, mangroves, and savannahs but are increasingly restricted to isolated forest patches due to deforestation.
Efforts to conserve these parrots require protecting their remaining habitats and restoring degraded forests to expand their range.
FAQ
Are Timneh Parrots good pets?
Timneh Parrots are intelligent and bond strongly. However a strong warning and reminder – keeping Timneh Parrots as pets is an incredibly selfish act, as it is contributing to their extinction. Many parrots sold in the pet trade are illegally caught from the wild, causing immense suffering, the destruction of family units of birds and decimating populations. If you care about these parrots, you must advocate against the demand for exotic pets instead.
What is the lifespan of a Timneh?
In captivity, Timneh Parrots can live up to 50–60 years or more. In the wild, their lifespan is shorter due to the challenges posed by predation, disease, and habitat destruction. Timneh Parrots are not suitable pets because their species is going extinct due to the pet trade.
What is the difference between African Grey and Timneh?
Timneh Parrots are smaller and darker than African Greys. They have maroon tails and ivory-coloured upper mandibles, compared to the African Grey’s bright red tails and black bills. Timnehs are also considered less nervous and more adaptable.
What are the threats to Timneh Parrots?
The main threats include the illegal pet trade, deforestation for palm oil, cocoa, and coffee plantations, hunting for bushmeat, and climate change. Social media platforms have worsened the pet trade by facilitating connections between poachers and buyers.
Take Action!
The Timneh Parrot is on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade. Refuse to support the exotic pet market, boycott products linked to deforestation, and demand conservation efforts to protect their habitats. Every choice you make can help save them: #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottMeat #Boycott4Wildlife.
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Location: The Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is found in the dense forests, swamps, and riverbanks of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. They rely on the remaining fragments of lowland rainforest, particularly near freshwater sources, where they navigate through dense undergrowth using well-worn trails.
In the dwindling rainforests of West Africa, a rare and secretive #hippo clings to survival. The Pygmy #Hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is a shy, nocturnal #mammal dwelling in rivers, distinct from its larger, more familiar relative, the Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). Long before chubby #MooDeng 🦛💔 the baby pygmy hippo chonk became a social media sensation, the forest habitat of the beautiful pygmy #Hippo 🦛of #Guinea #Liberia 🇱🇷 #Africa was being razed for #palmoil, #cocoa and other crops. Unlike their river-dwelling cousins, Pygmy Hippos are primarily solitary, roaming through dense tropical forests in search of food. Their populations have been devastated by relentless deforestation, hunting, and habitat fragmentation, leaving them teetering on the brink of extinction. They now endangered. Such beautiful creatures deserve to be saved! There are now fewer than 2,500 individuals remaining in the wild. Fight back and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife every time you shop!
The forest habitat of the beautiful pygmy #Hippo 🦛of #Guinea #Liberia 🇱🇷 #Africa is being razed for #palmoil and other crops. They now endangered. Such a beautiful creature deserves to be saved! Fight back and #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🚫 #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-Qp
Long before chubby #MooDeng 🦛💔 the baby pygmy #hippo chonk became an #socialmedia sensation, #Liberia’s #forests were being pulped for #palmoil #cocoa and #tobacco #agriculture 😡 Help her and 1000s of others to survive! Be #Vegan and #Boycott4Wildlife https://wp.me/pcFhgU-Qp
If chubby and cute pygmy #hippo 🦛named #MooDeng could talk, she’d tell us all to stop staring at her online and instead to take action to save her home! Sign the #petition, be #Vegan and🍓🌱 #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🪔🚫 @palmoildetect https://wp.me/pcFhgU-97b
The Pygmy Hippopotamus is rarely seen because of their secretive, nocturnal habits and consequently not much is known of their ecology. This diminutive hippopotamus mainly inhabits lowland primary and secondary forests, close to rivers, streams and Raphia palm tree swamps sometimes being found along gallery forests extending into Transitional Woodland and the southern Guinea savanna.
Pygmy Hippos are significantly smaller than Common Hippos, standing only 70–80 cm tall at the shoulder and weighing between 180–270 kg (Saidu et al., 2022). Their compact bodies are adapted for navigating dense forests rather than open waterways. They possess smooth, hairless skin that secretes a natural mucus, acting as a protective barrier against dehydration and infection. This secretion has an unusual reddish tint, earning it the nickname “blood sweat,” though it has no connection to actual blood.
Unlike their gregarious relatives, Pygmy Hippos are solitary or found in pairs, with mothers keeping their calves hidden in secluded pools for extended periods. They are highly elusive and primarily active during twilight and nighttime hours. Camera traps in Liberia and Sierra Leone have shown that they move cautiously through forested wetlands, following well-worn trails that they mark with dung, a behaviour similar to that of their larger relatives.
Large areas of the original forest habitat, especially in Côte d’Ivoire, have been destroyed or degraded by commercial plantations of oil palm and other products, shifting cultivation, mining and logging, and hunting for bushmeat is increasing throughout the range (Mallon et al. 2011, FFI and FDA 2013).
IUCN Red List
Ecosystem Role
Pygmy Hippos play a crucial role in maintaining the health of forest ecosystems. By foraging on vegetation and dispersing seeds, they contribute to forest regeneration and seed dispersal. Their movements create pathways through dense undergrowth, benefiting other species by increasing habitat accessibility. However, their shrinking populations threaten these ecological functions, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
Predators
Few natural predators pose a significant threat to adult Pygmy Hippos, though young individuals are vulnerable to Leopards Panthera pardus, African Rock Pythons (Python sebae), and Nile CrocodilesCrocodylus niloticus. Camera trap evidence has also captured predation by African Golden Cats Caracal aurata and African Civet in some regions. However, human activity remains their greatest existential threat.
Threats
The Pygmy Hippopotamus Choeropsis liberiensis is facing a severe population decline due to habitat destruction, hunting, and increasing human pressures. Their remaining forested habitats are rapidly disappearing, leaving isolated populations vulnerable to extinction.
1. Deforestation and Habitat Loss
West Africa’s rainforests have been devastated by large-scale deforestation, with over 90% of the Upper Guinea Forest already lost. Shifting agriculture is the primary driver, with forests cleared at an accelerating rate to make way for crops and livestock. Expanding commercial plantations, particularly oil palm, rubber, and coffee, continue to erode remaining habitat. Mining operations, road construction, and infrastructure development have further fragmented the landscape, even encroaching into protected areas like Taï and Sapo National Parks. As human settlements expand, Pygmy Hippos are forced into smaller and more fragmented patches of forest, increasing their vulnerability.
2. Hunting and the Bushmeat Trade
Pygmy Hippos are increasingly being hunted, both opportunistically and for commercial sale. While not traditionally a primary target, they are killed for bushmeat in rural areas where alternative protein sources are scarce. Reports indicate that in some regions, commercial bushmeat markets have placed additional pressure on their populations. Their skulls, bones, and other body parts are sometimes used in traditional African medicine and spiritual practices. Additionally, free-ranging domestic dogs are known to attack and kill Pygmy Hippos, particularly young or weakened individuals.
3. Habitat Fragmentation and Isolation
The destruction of forest corridors has left Pygmy Hippo populations increasingly isolated, reducing genetic diversity and increasing the risk of local extinction. As forested areas continue to shrink, the lack of connectivity between populations means that even those in protected areas face long-term viability challenges. Habitat fragmentation also makes Pygmy Hippos more vulnerable to hunting, as roads and human settlements provide easier access to once-remote areas.
4. Competition with Humans and Livestock
With human populations in their range doubling every 20–30 years, there is ever-increasing pressure on natural resources. Domestic cattle increasingly compete with Pygmy Hippos for access to water sources, particularly during dry seasons. In many areas, pastoralists illegally graze their livestock inside national parks and reserves, further degrading critical Pygmy Hippo habitat. This competition not only depletes available resources but also increases human-wildlife conflict, often leading to retaliatory killings of Pygmy Hippos.
5. Climate Change and Environmental Pressures
Rising temperatures and prolonged dry seasons are altering the Pygmy Hippo’s habitat, reducing wetland areas essential for their survival. Changes in vegetation due to shifting rainfall patterns may further limit the availability of preferred food sources, forcing Pygmy Hippos to travel greater distances in search of sustenance. As forests become drier, wildfires pose an additional threat, accelerating habitat destruction and making remaining populations even more vulnerable.
Diet
Pygmy Hippos are herbivorous, feeding primarily on forest vegetation. They consume ferns, tender roots, leaves, and fruit from various trees and plants. Research from Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone, identified key food sources, including sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas), cacao (Theobroma cacao), okra (Hibiscus esculentus), and creeping vines such as Geophila obvallata. Unlike Common Hippos, they are less dependent on aquatic vegetation and do not graze extensively on grasses.
Reproduction and Mating
Little is known about the reproductive behaviour of Pygmy Hippos in the wild. Captive studies indicate that they reach sexual maturity at around 4–5 years, with a gestation period of approximately 188 days (Lang, 1975; Tobler, 1991). Females typically give birth to a single calf, weighing between 4.5–6.2 kg. Unlike Common Hippos, Pygmy Hippos give birth on land, and calves are left hidden in secluded pools while their mothers forage (Galat-Luong, 1981).
Geographic Range
Historically, Pygmy Hippos ranged widely across West Africa, but their distribution has dramatically contracted. Today, they are found in fragmented populations in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, primarily within protected areas such as Taï National Park and Sapo National Park (Ransom, Robinson & Collen, 2015). They prefer lowland tropical forests near rivers and swamps, where dense vegetation provides cover.
FAQs
1. How many Pygmy Hippopotamuses are left in the wild?
The exact population size of the Pygmy Hippopotamus is unknown due to their elusive nature and dense forest habitat, but estimates suggest fewer than 2,500 individuals remain in the wild. Their numbers are rapidly declining due to habitat loss, hunting, and human encroachment.
2. Why are Pygmy Hippos endangered?
Pygmy Hippos are endangered primarily due to deforestation, which has destroyed over 90% of the Upper Guinea Forest, their primary habitat. Additional threats include hunting for bushmeat, competition with livestock for water, and climate change, which is altering their wetland habitats.
3. How do Pygmy Hippos differ from Common Hippos?
Unlike their larger relatives, Pygmy Hippos are more terrestrial, reclusive, and nocturnal. They are about half the size of Common Hippos, lack the same level of aggression, and are adapted to life in dense forests rather than open rivers and lakes.
4. What do Pygmy Hippos eat?
Pygmy Hippos are herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants, ferns, fruits, and aquatic vegetation. Their diet consists of tender roots, leaves, fallen fruit, and occasionally cultivated crops like sweet potatoes, okra, and cassava.
5. Do Pygmy Hippos live in groups?
No, Pygmy Hippos are mostly solitary animals. They only come together for mating or when a mother is raising her calf. Unlike Common Hippos, they do not form large social groups.
6. Where can you find Pygmy Hippos?
They are found in the forests and swamps of West Africa, specifically in Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Small, scattered populations may exist in protected areas like Taï National Park and Sapo National Park.
7. How do Pygmy Hippos mark their territory?
Pygmy Hippos use a unique method of territory marking by vigorously wagging their tail while defecating. This spreads their dung across trails and vegetation, signaling their presence to other individuals.
8. How long do Pygmy Hippos live?
In the wild, their lifespan is estimated to be around 30 years, while in captivity, they can live up to 40 years due to the absence of predators and consistent food availability.
9. Do Pygmy Hippos have predators?
Adult Pygmy Hippos have few natural predators due to their size, but young individuals are vulnerable to leopards, nile crocodiles, and African rock pythons. However, their greatest threat comes from human activities, including illegal poaching and habitat destruction.
10. Can Pygmy Hippos swim?
Yes, Pygmy Hippos are excellent swimmers and rely on water for hydration, temperature regulation, and protection from predators. However, they spend more time on land than Common Hippos and are well adapted to moving through dense forests.
11. Do Pygmy Hippos make sounds?
Pygmy Hippos communicate using a variety of sounds, including grunts, bellows, and squeaks. These vocalisations are used for warning others, mating calls, and communication between mothers and calves.
12. Are Pygmy Hippos aggressive?
Pygmy Hippos are not as aggressive as Common Hippos, but they are highly territorial and can be defensive if threatened. Their reclusive nature makes human encounters rare.
13. Are Pygmy Hippos good parents?
Yes, female Pygmy Hippos are very protective of their young. They hide their calves in dense vegetation or secluded pools while they forage, returning regularly to nurse them.
14. How do Pygmy Hippos reproduce?
Pygmy Hippos reach sexual maturity at around 3–5 years old. They have a gestation period of about six months, typically giving birth to a single calf. Twins are very rare.
15. How can we help save Pygmy Hippos?
The best way to help protect Pygmy Hippos is by supporting conservation efforts that focus on preserving their remaining rainforest habitat. Avoiding products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil, and supporting organisations working to stop illegal hunting and deforestation are crucial. Always choose products that are 100% palm oil-free to avoid contributing to biodiversity loss.
Take Action
The survival of Pygmy Hippos depends on urgent conservation action. Their habitat continues to vanish due to deforestation, mining, and agriculture. Individuals and organisations can help by:
• Boycotting palm oil to reduce habitat destruction.
• Supporting wildlife conservation efforts in West Africa, particularly initiatives that focus on habitat restoration and anti-poaching measures.
• Advocating for stronger enforcement of hunting bans and protection of remaining forest areas.
• Educating local communities on the importance of conserving Pygmy Hippos and providing alternative livelihoods to reduce hunting pressure.
Avedik, A., & Clauss, M. (2023). Chewing, dentition and tooth wear in Hippopotamidae (Hippopotamus amphibius and Choeropsis liberiensis). PLOS ONE, 18(10), e0291825. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291825
Erazo-Mera, E., Younes, N., Horwood, P. F., Paris, D., Paris, M., & Murray, N. (2023). Forest loss during 2000–2019 in pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) habitats was driven by shifting agriculture. Environmental Conservation, 51(1), 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892923000310
Saidu, J. B., Adewumi, A. A., Lameed, G. A., & Udo, A. J. (2022). Food preference of pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) in the Tiwai Island edge communities, South-Eastern Sierra Leone. Environtropica, 17, 014-026. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386552939
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The White-thighed Colobus is found in the forests of West Africa, including lowland rainforest, semi-deciduous forest, gallery forest, and swamp forest. Key strongholds include the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana and Kikélé Sacred Forest in Benin.
The White-thighed Colobus (Colobus vellerosus), also known as the Ursine Colobus or Geoffroy’s Black-and-White Colobus, is a striking primate of West Africa and is currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Their numbers have plummeted by over 80% in just three generations due to rampant deforestation driven by logging, agriculture, and expanding palm oil plantations. Intense bushmeat hunting and weakening traditional taboos have further accelerated their decline. With fewer than 1,500 individuals thought to remain in the wild, urgent action is needed to save them. Use your wallet as a weapon—boycott products that contain palm oil and support ethical, indigenous-led conservation. BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan #BoycottMeat
With complex vocalisations and striking halos of white hair, the White-thighed #Colobus 🐵🐒🩷 are arguably rarest #primates in #WestAfrica 🇨🇮 🇬🇭 Help them to survive when you #BoycottPalmOil 🌴🪔🔥🧐⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/white-thighed-colobus-colobus-vellerosus/
The White-thighed Colobus is instantly recognisable by its black fur offset with bright white patches on the thighs and a halo of thick white fur surrounding their bare black face. Their long, fully white tail and slender body give them a unique silhouette among colobines. Infants are born completely white and darken to adult colouration by around three months.
In both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, more than half of the closed forest in the forest reserves has been converted to plantation or farmland, or cleared and left bare (Bitty et al. 2015).
IUCN Red List
These monkeys are highly arboreal, agile, and diurnal, moving through the canopy with grace. Their complex vocal repertoire includes deep roaring calls to defend territories and sharp snorts as alarm signals. Group structure typically includes one territorial male with multiple females and their offspring, though multi-male groups are also observed.
Diet
Primarily folivorous, the White-thighed Colobus feeds on young leaves, seeds, fruits, buds, flowers, and bark. Their diet includes more than 30 plant species and varies with seasonal availability. In Kikélé Sacred Forest, they consume large amounts of leaves (over 60%), followed by fruits and other plant parts. They occasionally supplement their diet with termite clay.
Reproduction and Mating
Groups of these colobuses typically include one or more adult males, several females, and their offspring. Group sizes range from 10 to 25 individuals. Breeding occurs year-round, with a likely peak during the dry season. Infants are closely cared for by mothers and other females, fostering a strong social structure. Males often disperse upon reaching sexual maturity.
Geographic Range
The species is found in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Togo, and possibly the southernmost tip of Burkina Faso. It has been extirpated from many forest reserves in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire due to extreme hunting and forest clearance. Populations remain in Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Ghana), Comoé National Park (Côte d’Ivoire), Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (Togo), and Kikélé Sacred Forest (Benin). It is likely extinct in Burkina Faso.
Threats
The White-thighed Colobus is threatened primarily by hunting and secondarily by habitat loss (McGraw 2005). Accelerated hunting pressure is discernible from reported changes in hunters’ behaviour in the species’ range countries. Thirty years ago, hunters in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire almost always hunted only larger-bodied animals, but now they are mostly hunting smaller-bodied animals because of the depletion of large primates like C. vellerosus (Decher and Kpelle 2005, Gonedelé Bi et al. 2016).
In Comoé National Park in Côte d’Ivoire, several groups remain, but hunting pressure and mining occur although some patrol is in place.
Deforestation from logging, agriculture, road building, and palm oil plantations has fragmented and destroyed their habitat.
Palm oil, tobacco and cocoa expansion and industrial production is a major driver of forest clearance across West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
Hunting for bushmeat is rampant, including in protected areas and sacred groves.
Collapse of traditional taboos that once protected the species has made them vulnerable to killing by local communities.
Hydropower development, such as the proposed Adjarala dam on the Mono River, threatens forests in Benin and Togo.
Infrastructure expansion and human settlement continue to encroach on remaining habitats.
Take Action!
Use your wallet as a weapon. Boycott products that contain palm oil—this is one of the leading causes of deforestation that is destroying the forests of the White-thighed Colobus. Avoid meat and dairy, which drive land clearing for grazing and feed crops. Support indigenous-led conservation and community-based sanctuaries like Boabeng-Fiema. Demand governments halt infrastructure projects in critical habitat areas. Take action every time you shop BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife be #Vegan and #BoycottMeat
FAQs
How many White-thighed Colobus are left in the wild?
Recent estimates suggest fewer than 1,500 individuals remain across their entire range (IUCN, 2020). In some places, only a few isolated groups survive, such as in Kikélé Sacred Forest (Benin) and Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Ghana).
What is the average lifespan of the White-thighed Colobus in the wild?
While specific data are scarce, similar species of colobus monkeys live up to 20 years in the wild. In captivity, they may live slightly longer under optimal care.
How are White-thighed Colobuses affected by palm oil?
Palm oil plantations are expanding rapidly in West Africa, replacing biodiverse forests with monocultures. This directly destroys the colobus monkeys’ food sources, sleeping trees, and corridors between forest patches. Products with palm oil continue to drive this destruction.
What are the biggest threats to the White-thighed Colobus?
Besides palm oil, the main threats include logging, conversion of forest to farmland, hunting for bushmeat, infrastructure development (roads and dams), and the erosion of traditional beliefs that once protected them.
Are White-thighed Colobuses sacred to local communities?
Yes, in areas like Boabeng-Fiema and Kikélé, they are considered sacred and are given burial rites. However, these traditions are fading, and poaching still occurs.
Arseneau-Robar, T. J., Teichroeb, J. A., Macintosh, A. J. J., Saj, T. L., Glotfelty, E., Lucci, S., Sicotte, P., & Wikberg, E. C. (2024). When population growth intensifies intergroup competition, female colobus monkeys free-ride less. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 14363. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64188-0
Djègo-Djossou, S., Koné, I., Fandohan, A. B., Djègo, J. G., Huynen, M. C., & Sinsin, B. (2015). Habitat Use by White-Thighed Colobus in the Kikélé Sacred Forest: Activity Budget, Feeding Ecology and Selection of Sleeping Trees. Primate Conservation, 2015(29), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1896/052.029.0106
Kankam, B. O., Antwi-Bosiako, P., Addae-Wireko, L., & Dankwah, C. (2023). Growing population of the critically endangered white-thighed colobus monkey (Colobus vellerosus) from forest fragments in Ghana. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 39, e33. doi:10.1017/S0266467423000214
Matsuda Goodwin, R., Gonedelé Bi, S., Nobimè, G., Koné, I., Osei, D., Segniagbeto, G. & Oates, J.F. 2020. Colobus vellerosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T5146A169472127. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T5146A169472127.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
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Location: This species is found in the tropical rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. Its range is extremely limited, primarily confined to the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and one additional site in the Ankasa Conservation Area.
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is one of the most endangered amphibians in Africa, threatened by rapid habitat destruction driven by logging, agriculture, and out-of-control palm oil plantations. This diminutive frog, named for its high-pitched squeaking call, is a vital part of its ecosystem, helping control insect populations and maintaining forest health. Protecting its habitat is crucial to its survival. Use your voice to save them every time you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Deep within the rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, a rare and enigmatic frog fights for survival. The Krokosua Squeaking Frog, with their tiny bodies and distinctive squeaking call, are both wonders of nature and stark symbols of the fragility of tropical ecosystems. Their survival depends on the integrity of the dense forest floors they inhabit, where they feed on insects and find safety beneath leaf litter. However, these critical habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate.
The relentless expansion of palm oil plantations, illegal logging, and agricultural activities are devastating their already fragmented range. This fragile species needs immediate intervention to prevent their extinction. Every choice you make matters. Support indigenous-led conservation #BoycottPalmOil #BoycottPalmOil to protect their home.
Appearance and Behaviour
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is a petite amphibian, measuring just 2–4 centimetres in length. Their smooth, brown to reddish-brown skin is dappled with darker markings, offering natural camouflage against the forest floor’s leaf litter. Large, dark eyes dominate their delicate faces, lending an air of quiet watchfulness as they navigate their humid environment.
This frog species is nocturnal and terrestrial, spending its days hidden beneath logs, leaves, or rocks, and emerging at night to forage. The frog’s most remarkable trait is its unique vocalisation—a high-pitched squeak that pierces the rainforest’s evening calm. This call is used to communicate with other frogs, likely as part of territorial defence or courtship.
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog faces continuing decline in the number of mature individuals caused by habitat loss from logging activities, farming (especially for cocoa), illegal plantations and small-scale mining.
IUCN Red List
Palm oil, tobacco, cocoa and mining deforestation:
The greatest threat to the Krokosua Squeaking Frog is habitat destruction caused by logging, agricultural expansion for cocoa and tobacco, and the proliferation of out-of-control palm oil plantations. These activities strip away the dense forest undergrowth they rely on for cover and breeding, fragmenting their already limited range.
Extreme Temperature Changes from Climate Change:
Rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns due to climate change further threaten the delicate balance of their habitat. As a species highly dependent on stable rainforest ecosystems, they are particularly vulnerable to these shifts.
Restricted Range:
With a range limited to the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and a small portion of the Ankasa Conservation Area, this frog is at high risk of extinction from stochastic events such as droughts, fires, or disease outbreaks.
Diet
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog feeds on small invertebrates, such as ants, beetles, and other forest floor arthropods. Their diet not only sustains them but also plays a critical role in regulating insect populations within their habitat. This makes them essential contributors to the overall health and balance of their rainforest ecosystem.
Reproduction and Mating
Little is known about the specific reproductive habits of this species, but like other frogs in the Arthroleptis genus, they are likely to lay their eggs in moist leaf litter or soil. The direct development of their offspring—where eggs hatch directly into miniature frogs rather than passing through a tadpole stage—is an adaptation that allows them to thrive in terrestrial habitats.
Geographic Range
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog’s range is among the smallest of any amphibian, restricted to just two known locations: the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve and the Ankasa Conservation Area. These areas, although legally protected, are under intense pressure from human activities. The total extent of their range is estimated to be less than 100 square kilometres, with much of this fragmented and degraded.
FAQ
What is the squeaking frog?
The squeaking frog refers to members of the genus Arthroleptis, known for their high-pitched vocalisations. The Krokosua Squeaking Frog, specifically, is a critically endangered amphibian found only in the rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
What is the squeaking frog in South Africa?
The term “squeaking frog” in South Africa typically refers to other species within the Arthroleptis genus, as the Krokosua Squeaking Frog is only found in West Africa. South African species, like their West African counterparts, share similar behaviours and habitats but are distinct in range and conservation status.
Why is the Krokosua Squeaking Frog endangered?
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is critically endangered due to habitat loss caused by illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and out-of-control palm oil plantations. Additionally, their extremely restricted range makes them highly susceptible to climate change and other stochastic events.
Why are they called squeaking frogs?
They are called squeaking frogs because of their distinctive, high-pitched calls. These squeaks are used to communicate, likely for territorial or mating purposes, and can often be heard echoing through the rainforest at night.
Take Action!
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog urgently needs your help. Use your voice to demand an end to deforestation caused by palm oil plantations and illegal logging. Support indigenous-led conservation efforts in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to protect this critically endangered species. Every purchase you make can help safeguard their fragile rainforest home. Fight for their survival: #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
The Krokosua Squeaking Frog is critically endangered on @IUCNredlist in #Ghana and #IvoryCoast due to illegal logging for #cocoa #palmoil. Make art for this dissapearing creature and #Boycott4Wildlife
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2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
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Locations: Ghana (notably in the Kwabre and Ankasa forests) and south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire (especially Tanoé forest). The Roloway Monkey lives in the dense, humid canopies of the Upper Guinean rainforest, a region once stretching from the Sassandra River in Côte d’Ivoire to the Pra River in Ghana, now reduced to scattered fragments by logging, agriculture, and roads.
The Roloway Monkey is one of West Africa’s rarest primates, instantly recognisable by their elegant white beard and striking brow band. Once common in the lush rainforests of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the Roloway Monkey now survives only in isolated pockets of old-growth forest. The Roloway Monkey’s world is shrinking rapidly—palm oil, cocoa, and logging companies clear the last ancient trees, while hunters target the Roloway Monkey for bushmeat. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant echo of chainsaws. With fewer than 2,000 Roloway Monkeys left, their future hangs by a thread. Stand with indigenous communities defending the last forests. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife #Vegan
The Roloway #Monkeys of #IvoryCoast, #Ghana are 1 of the most threatened monkeys in the 🌍 Critically endangered 😿🐒🙈🙉🙊 their main threat is #palmoil and #mining #deforestation. Fight for them!! #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/roloway-monkey-cercopithecus-roloway/
Roloway #Monkeys of #IvoryCoast, #Ghana are encircled by #palmoil, #mining and #poaching threats. Critically endangered, they’re the cute #primate you have never heard of 🙉 Fight back and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴💩🔥👎 #Boycott4Wildlife! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/roloway-monkey-cercopithecus-roloway/
The Roloway Monkey is a medium-sized, long-limbed primate, weighing 4–7 kg and measuring 40–55 cm, with a tail that can reach 70 cm. The Roloway Monkey’s fur is glossy black with a white chest, throat, and a dramatic, bushy beard that frames their expressive face. Their brow is marked by a bold white band, and their long tail aids in balance as they leap and run through the high canopy. The Roloway Monkey is a high-canopy specialist, rarely descending to the ground. Troops of 6–30 individuals move quietly through the treetops, led by a single male and several females with their young. The Roloway Monkey is highly social, spending hours grooming, playing, and reinforcing family bonds. Their calls ring through the forest at dawn and dusk—a chorus of barks, trills, and alarm calls that warn of danger and keep the group together. The Roloway Monkey’s agility is unmatched, foraging among the terminal branches of emergent trees and using their keen eyesight to spot fruit and insects.
Threats
Large-scale deforestation in the region, through logging, conversion to agricultural land and charcoal production, continues to reduce the habitat available to this species, especially in Côte d’Ivoire (McGraw 1998, McGraw and Oates 2007, Bitty et al. 2015).
IUCN Red List
Palm oil, cocoa, and logging deforestation
The Red List classifies the Roloway Monkey as Critically Endangered due to catastrophic habitat loss. Over 80% of the Roloway Monkey’s original forest has been destroyed in the past three generations. Palm oil and cocoa plantations, logging, and road-building have stripped away the ancient canopy, leaving only fragments for the Roloway Monkey to survive. The Roloway Monkey cannot adapt to secondary or degraded forest and disappears quickly when humans encroach. Ghana alone has lost nearly 90% of its forests in the last century. The Roloway Monkey’s need for old-growth, undisturbed forest makes them especially vulnerable. As the forest vanishes, so do the Roloway Monkey’s food sources and safe nesting sites. Even within protected areas, illegal logging and land conversion continue, and the Roloway Monkey’s world grows ever smaller.
Bushmeat hunting and illegal wildlife trade
Bushmeat hunting is the greatest direct threat to the Roloway Monkey. Hunters target the Roloway Monkey for their meat, which is highly valued in local markets. The Roloway Monkey’s loud calls and social nature make them easy targets, and entire troops can be wiped out in a single hunt. Infants are sometimes captured alive for the illegal pet trade, suffering extreme stress and early death in captivity. The bushmeat trade in Ghana alone moves nearly 1,000 tons of meat annually, and the Roloway Monkey is among the most prized species. As populations dwindle, hunting pressure remains relentless, pushing the Roloway Monkey closer to extinction. Weak enforcement and poverty drive continued poaching, even in reserves.
Forest fragmentation and climate change
The Roloway Monkey’s habitat is now reduced to a handful of forest fragments in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Populations are isolated, and inbreeding threatens genetic health. Roads and farms cut through the last forests, making it nearly impossible for the Roloway Monkey to move between fragments. Climate change brings longer dry seasons and unpredictable fruiting, further stressing the Roloway Monkey’s small, scattered groups. Surveys in once-occupied reserves now report zero sightings. The Roloway Monkey’s numbers have dropped by more than 90% in Ghana in recent decades, and fewer than 2,000 are thought to survive in the wild.
Diet
The Roloway Monkey is an omnivore, feeding on over 130 species of trees, climbers, and epiphytes. Their diet includes ripe fruit pulp, seeds (especially oil-rich seeds from Pycnanthus angolensis), young leaves, flowers, and a wide range of insects, larvae, and eggs. The Roloway Monkey’s diet shifts with the seasons—more fruit and seeds in the dry season, more insects and flowers in the wet. Their foraging helps disperse seeds and control insect populations, playing a vital role in the forest ecosystem.
Reproduction and Mating
The Roloway Monkey is polygynous, with one male leading a group of up to 30 females and their young. Females have a 30-day oestrus cycle and can breed at any time of year. After a gestation of about six months, the Roloway Monkey gives birth to a single infant, rarely twins. The mother is the primary carer, nursing the infant for about six months before introducing them to fruit, nuts, and seeds. Young Roloway Monkeys reach maturity at 3–4 years. Males leave to find new groups, while females remain with their birth troop. In the wild, the Roloway Monkey may live up to 20 years, but life expectancy is much lower due to hunting and habitat loss.
Geographic Range
This highly arboreal species was once confined to moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous primary and old secondary lowland forests and swamp forests.
The Roloway Monkey is one of the most threatened monkeys of the Upper Guinean Forest block (Oates 1996). They have previously been recorded from a number of protected areas across the region. However, tragically recent surveys failed to confirm the presence of Roloway monkeys in several forest reserves in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. There is no known conservation project in place to protect them.
The Roloway Monkey was once found from the Sassandra River in Côte d’Ivoire east to the Pra River in Ghana. Today, the Roloway Monkey is confined to a few forest patches in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire (notably Tanoé forest) and south-western Ghana (Kwabre forest). Recent surveys have found Roloway Monkeys in Dassioko Sud Forest Reserve and Petit Jacqueville, but their numbers are extremely low. The Roloway Monkey cannot survive in secondary forest or plantations, and their range continues to contract as forests are cleared.
FAQs
How many Roloway Monkeys remain in the wild?
Fewer than 2,000 Roloway Monkeys are thought to survive in the wild, with the largest populations in Tanoé forest (Côte d’Ivoire) and Kwabre forest (Ghana). Surveys in once-occupied reserves now report zero sightings, and the Roloway Monkey’s numbers have dropped by over 80% in three generations. The Red List lists the Roloway Monkey as Critically Endangered, and their population continues to decline. Without urgent action, the Roloway Monkey could vanish within a decade.
Why is the Roloway Monkey so threatened by palm oil and cocoa?
Palm oil and cocoa plantations have replaced vast areas of the Roloway Monkey’s old-growth forest. The Roloway Monkey cannot survive in monoculture plantations or secondary forest and disappears quickly when humans encroach. As the forest vanishes, the Roloway Monkey loses food sources, nesting sites, and safe corridors to move between groups. The expansion of palm oil and cocoa is the main driver of habitat loss for the Roloway Monkey.
Do Roloway Monkeys make good pets?
No. The Roloway Monkey suffers extreme stress, loneliness, and early death in captivity. The illegal pet trade rips families apart and fuels extinction. Captive Roloway Monkeys rarely survive long, and their removal from the wild further endangers the species. Keeping the Roloway Monkey as a pet is illegal and unethical
Take Action!
Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Fight for the Roloway Monkey’s survival every time you shop.
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Koné, I., Oates, J.F., Dempsey, A., Gonedelé Bi, S., McGraw, S. & Wiafe, E. 2019. Cercopithecus roloway. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T4232A92384429. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T4232A92384429.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
Emmanuel Danquah1 and Elvis Hackman Tetteh Logging Activity Adversely Impacts Primate Diversity and Density in the Kwabre Rainforest of Ghana. International Journal of Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/7497326
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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
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Locations: This species historically ranged across the moist forests between the Nzi-Bandama River system in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire to south-western Ghana, especially along the Ehy lagoon and Tanoé River forests.
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus, a secretive old world primate sport chestnut, black, and white white fur that surrounds their expressive faces. They live in the dense canopies of West Africa’s dwindling forests. Their story is one of ever-increasing fragility, on the edge of survival. Sightings of these magnificent primates have faded away since 1978. The last evidence, a skin, emerged in 2002.
These monkey species have been driven towards the extinction by palm oil, cocoa, and rubber plantations along with hunting for bushmeat. Their calls, once a common cacophony are now nearly permanently silenced. Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus serve as a living warning for forest health. They disappear before most other mammals wherever the forests fall. Support indigenous sovereignty and safeguarding of ecosystems—use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife.
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus displays a unique palette: chestnut-red fur with black and white markings, white whiskers, and tufts framing their expressive and emotive faces. Unlike most monkey species, their thumbs are mere stubs, giving their hands a four-fingered look. Adults can weigh up to around 10kg, with slender limbs and a long tail designed for deft swinging through the canopy. They leap with agility between dense foliage and enormous arbours in large, cohesive groups. Play, grooming and distinctive calls mark their hours and days. After feasting on leaves, they rest. Their complex stomachs do the hard work of breaking down tough plant fibres.
Deforestation through logging, charcoal production, cocoa farming and clearance for agricultural land (including industrial oil palm and rubber tree plantations), occurred over much of the species range in the last 50-60 years.
IUCN Red List
“The disappearance of Miss Waldron’s red colobus is a sign of a wave of extinction of animals that can only live in forests. How many of them will go? At what point will we care? It is going to be a cascade. It is the beginning of a series of extinctions of animals.”
Inza Koné, chair of the African Primatological Society. Mongabay
Threats
Palm oil, cocoa, and rubber deforestation
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus stands at the frontline of critical deforestation. The expansion of palm oil, cocoa, and rubber plantations has driven catastrophic habitat loss across their limited range. These industrial crops, together with timber extraction and intensifying smallholder agriculture, have erased mature forests from south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire and south-western Ghana, erasing the monkey’s last havens. Unlike more adaptable species, Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus cannot survive outside dense, old-growth forests—the only world they have ever known.
Bushmeat hunting and wildlife trade
Entire groups have fallen to bushmeat hunters, their large size making them easy targets. Logging roads and increased access allow hunters deeper entry, compounding population collapse. Their stress-prone biology makes even brief disturbances lethal: groups fragment and fade, never returning. The region’s strong tradition of bushmeat consumption ensures constant pressure.
Diet
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus is a specialist leaf-eater, relying on young, tender leaves of mature forest trees. They supplement this with fruits, seeds, and flowers, but leaves dominate their intake for most of the year. Their four-chambered stomach ferments tough plant material, much like a cow’s stomach, letting them exploit foods other primates ignore. When leaves become scarce, they adjust by eating seeds and flowers, sometimes foraging with other monkeys to find nutritious patches.
Mating & Reproduction
Females show distinctive sexual swellings, signalling their readiness to mate. Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus lives in multi-male, multi-female groups, with females typically leaving their birth group upon maturity. After mating, gestation lasts about five to six months, with single infants born during the rainy season. Mothers nurture their young closely—infants cling tightly as the group travels the canopy. Detailed data on their wild reproduction is limited because of the severe decline, but their social bonds are vital for raising the next generation.
Geographic Range
Historically, Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus ranged only in the dense, humid forests straddling eastern Côte d’Ivoire and western Ghana—never extending past the Volta River. Most recent evidence for their possible survival comes from the swamp forests between the Ehy lagoon and Tanoé River in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. Forest clearing for industrial and smallholder agriculture has eliminated almost all historic populations, leaving only the faintest hope that a remnant persists in inaccessible swamp forests.
FAQs
Are Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus extinct?
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus is classified as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct). The last verified sighting was in 1978, and no living group has been seen by scientists in over forty years despite repeated surveys. Occasional reports, like a skin in 2002 and calls in 2008, leave a slim possibility that a tiny, non-viable remnant persists. Without meaningful sightings, extinction is imminent unless efforts uncover a surviving population.
How many Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus are left in the world?
There is no confirmed wild population of Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus remaining. Surveys have failed to detect any groups for decades, and experts consider the total population likely to be zero or functionally extinct. If any individuals survive, the group would be too small to recover naturally and may not reproduce.
Where do Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus live?
They are (or were) forest specialists, limited exclusively to the upper canopy of mature, moist swamp and semi-deciduous forests along the Ehy lagoon and Tanoé River in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire, with small populations once present in south-western Ghana. These habitats have almost entirely disappeared due to palm oil, cocoa, and rubber expansion.
Are Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus intelligent?
Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus displays advanced social intelligence, shown by their cooperative group structures, complex vocalisations, and ability to form alliances with other monkeys to avoid predators. Their subtle communication and gentle social behaviour reflect the high intelligence characteristic of African colobines.
Take Action!
Fight for their survival every time you shop: #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Let your choices drive change—protect what remains of West Africa’s forest canopies by demanding transparent, deforestation-free supply chains and championing community-driven land management.
Oates, J.F., Koné, I., McGraw, S. & Osei, D. 2020. Piliocolobus waldroni (amended version of 2019 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T18248A166620835. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T18248A166620835.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Location: Bearded Pigs are found across Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and the Philippines, including Palawan. They inhabit tropical rainforests, mangroves, peat swamps, and logged forests, sometimes venturing into agricultural areas.
Extant (resident): Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Kalimantan, Sumatera); Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah)
Possibly Extinct: Philippines
Extinct: Singapore
A gardener of the forests in #Asia the Bearded Pig is a vital part of many ecosystems. #Extinct in some countries, they are #Vulnerable due to #deforestation for #palmoil and #rubber. Help them and #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/bearded-pig-sus-barbatus/
Gentle gardeners of #Borneo, Bearded #Pigs 🐷🩷 have distinguished and cheeky whiskers that set them apart from others. They’re #vulnerable due to #palmoil #deforestation, fight for their survival #Boycottpalmoil 🌴⛔️ #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/15/bearded-pig-sus-barbatus/
Bearded Pigs have hair which grows along their lower jaws that resembles a beard – giving them their distinctive whiskery appearance and their name. The Bearded Pig is an integral part of Southeast Asia’s tropical ecosystems, known for their unique appearance and critical role as seed dipersers in forest health. They are the only pig species known to migrate, moving in synchrony with fruiting seasons. However, they face mounting threats from habitat loss for palm oil and timber, along with illegal hunting, and disease. Help them to survive and use your wallet as a weapon in the supermarket #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Appearance and Behaviour
The Bearded Pig is a striking wild pig of the rainforest, recognised by their wiry “beard” of coarse hair framing a long, mud-streaked snout. Their shaggy coats, a mix of grey-brown and lighter streaks, seem made for blending into the dappled forest floor. Small, keen eyes glint with intelligence, and their long legs carry their robust bodies— weighing between 40 to 120 kilograms—through thick vegetation with quiet purpose.
Foraging families can often be heard before they’re seen, with soft grunts and snuffling sounds that echo through the undergrowth. In migration, the rhythm of hooves and the rustle of leaves mark their passage, as they travel great distances in search of fruiting trees.
The Palawan Bearded Pig (Sus barbatus ahoenobarbus), smaller and with a less pronounced beard, shares these traits, however they are adapted to the unique environment of Palawan Island.
In Sumatra, habitat loss and fragmentation have been the highest in the world over the last 20 years, putting S. b. oi at direct threat of extinction (Margono et al. 2011, Meitten 2012). The same situation probably applies to Bangka and the Riau Archipelago where the persistence of the species is unclear today.
IUCN Red List
Diet
Bearded Pigs are omnivores, thriving on a diverse diet of fruits, seeds, roots, tubers, fungi, and small invertebrates. They are keystone seed dispersers in the rainforest, consuming figs, dipterocarp seeds, and other forest fruits, and scattering seeds through their foraging. When natural food is scarce, they may venture into fields to feed on crops like maize and rice.
Reproduction and Mating
These pigs breed year-round, but their reproduction often aligns with fruiting seasons. Females give birth to litters of four to eight piglets, born with striped coats that blend into the forest floor. Family groups are tightly bonded, with mothers fiercely protective of their young.
Geographic Range
Bearded Pigs inhabit rainforests, mangroves, and peat swamps across Borneo, Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and Palawan. While they thrive in intact forests, they are adaptable and can survive in logged forests and agricultural areas. However, their seasonal migrations require connected habitats, making forest corridors essential. Habitat fragmentation is a looming and major threat to this enigmatic wild pig.
Their population is believed to have declined by 30% over the last three generations (taken as 21 years) by hunting, shrinkage in distribution, and habitat destruction and degradation.
Threats
Palm oil and timber deforestation:
Bearded Pigs are losing their habitats at an alarming rate due to the expansion of out-of-control palm oil plantations, logging, and agricultural activities. The relentless clearing of forests for monoculture plantations not only reduces their foraging grounds but also fragments the connected landscapes they rely on for migration. Without intact forest corridors, their survival is increasingly precarious.
Illegal hunting and bushmeat trade:
Bearded Pigs are heavily hunted across their range for their meat. While some hunting is for subsistence, illegal hunting and commercial trade exacerbate the pressure on their populations. This unregulated hunting threatens not just the species but also the indigenous communities whose cultural practices and diets are deeply intertwined with their presence.
African swine fever and other diseases
Emerging infectious diseases, including African swine fever, pose a significant threat to wild pig populations. The rapid spread of this disease in Southeast Asia has raised concerns about its impact on already vulnerable species like the Bearded Pig. These diseases can decimate populations and further weaken their chances of survival.
Habitat fragmentation
The destruction of forest corridors caused by deforestation and infrastructure development disrupts the seasonal migrations of Bearded Pigs. Without connected habitats, these pigs are forced to remain in smaller, isolated areas, reducing access to food and increasing competition. Habitat fragmentation also isolates populations, which can lead to reduced genetic diversity over time.
FAQs
What does the Bornean Bearded Pig eat?
Bearded Pigs eat a mix of fruits, seeds, roots, fungi, and invertebrates. Their role as seed dispersers makes them essential to the rainforest ecosystem, as they help regenerate forests by spreading seeds through their droppings.
Is the Bearded Pig endangered?
The Bearded Pig is classified as Vulnerable. Populations are declining due to habitat destruction, hunting, and disease, and their reliance on intact forest corridors for migration makes them particularly vulnerable.
How are Bearded Pigs adapted to the tropical rainforest?
Bearded Pigs are highly adapted to rainforest life. Their migratory behaviour helps them track fruiting seasons, and their long snouts and strong jaws allow them to forage for tubers and seeds. Their omnivorous diet and ability to travel long distances and disperse seeds make them vital to forest health.
What are the physical characteristics of the Palawan Bearded Pig?
The Palawan Bearded Pig (Sus barbatus ahoenobarbus), a subspecies, is smaller and has shorter hair and a less pronounced beard compared to the Bearded Pig. Found exclusively on Palawan Island, they share the ecological significance of their mainland relatives in their seed dispersal activities that help forests to flourish.
Take Action!
The survival of the Bearded Pig depends on preserving their habitats and protecting forest corridors. Support indigenous-led conservation, boycott palm oil products, and advocate against illegal hunting to ensure their future. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
Support the conservation of this species
This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.
Further Information
Luskin, M., Ke, A., Meijaard, E., Gumal, M. & Kawanishi, K. 2017. Sus barbatus (errata version published in 2018). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T41772A123793370. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41772A44141317.en. Downloaded on 15 February 2021.
Borneo – fourth-largest island in the world, home to more than 20 million people. With so many well known species on the island like elephants, rhinos and orangutans, one species continues to fly under the radar. Sus barbatus AKA the Borneo Bearded Pig should be the most emblematic animal on the island. This wild boar…
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
Meanwhile, the palm oil industry has grown in other parts of the globe. Latin America, for example, has seen an uptick in palm production. And over the past decade or so, large-scale palm oil production has expanded into West and Central Africa. While some people have welcomed this in hopes it will bring economic opportunity, a number of communities are trying to resist — either the presence of the industry itself or the way individual companies operate in their countries. How these efforts play out could determine whether the industry can find a way to be more sustainable in Africa, and also the fate of communities across the continent, not to mention that of nonhuman primates.
“Palm oil companies will not just displace [people in affected communities], but their culture, their history, their value, their traditional institutions, will all be completely altered,” says Alfred Brownell, founder of the Liberian lawyers network Green Advocates and currently a distinguished scholar in residence at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. He lives in the U.S. in exile out of fear for his life, after he says he was threatened by private security guards protecting land being cleared of sacred sites to make way for palm oil development in Liberia. But he has represented indigenous communities in Liberia’s Sinoe County, where residents say that since the palm oil company Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) arrived in 2010, crops have been destroyed, shrines desecrated, burial grounds and grave sites denigrated, rivers diverted or dammed, and precious wetland areas polluted.
“It was a fertile ground for growing vegetables and other food staples to complement our local food basket,” Brownell wrote in a letter to RSPO on behalf of residents. “All of these are no more. All of the swamps within our communities have been filled in to make way for oil palm.”
Liberia is home to the largest remaining tract of West Africa’s Upper Guinean forest, which has some of the richest biodiversity in the world. In addition to wetlands and farmland that communities depend on, the forest is threatened by expanding palm oil production, among other commercial activities. If it disappears, Brownell says, so too does the spiritual connection that many indigenous communities have with it. “That’s why we took this complaint before the roundtable,” he says.
Rising Demand, Growing Industry
Palm oil production continues to grow steadily throughout the world. “Production has been doubling worldwide every 10 years during the past 40 years,” says Thomas Mielke, CEO of the market analysis firm Oil World. “Palm oil has become the most important vegetable oil worldwide.”
That’s because it’s cheap, and there are more uses for it all the time. It’s in all kinds of packaged food, from crackers to ice cream to instant noodles, and the rapidly growing consumption of processed foods globally is a big reason for the exploding demand. It’s also used in soap and cosmetics, in biodiesel, and as a mineral oil replacement. And because it is a very productive crop, impacts on land use could be even greater if the world were to try to replace palm with a different vegetable oil.
In Africa, an estimated 3 million hectares (almost 7.5 million acres) of land “traditionally used or inhabited by local communities,” covering both forest and farmland, have been acquired by palm oil companies, according to Devlin Kuyek, a researcher with GRAIN, a nonprofit that supports small farmers. That’s in line with reporting from The Economist in 2014, when the magazine reported, “In the past decade, politicians in west Africa and countries of the Congo basin have leased out around 1.8m hectares [4.5 million acres] of land for palm-oil plantations, according to Hardman, a London-based research company. Another 1.4m hectares [3.5 million acres] is being sought. Foreign companies sniffing around include groups such as Wilmar, Olam, Sime Darby, Golden Veroleum and Equatorial Palm Oil.” Meanwhile, pointing to statistics from the nonprofit Proforest, The Guardian reported in 2016 that “[a]s much as 22m hectares (54m acres) of land in west and central Africa could be converted to palm plantations over the next five years.”
While exact numbers on future large-scale expansion are difficult to predict, the industry is undoubtedly growing. “Despite having little plantation area currently, some countries in Latin America and Africa experienced greater percent growth during [2003–13] than did either Indonesia or Malaysia,” researchers wrote in PLOS One in 2016. “If these growth rates continue, oil palm plantation expansion in these countries will likely have increased impacts.”
Toward Sustainability
From Liberia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a battle has been emerging in recent years over where and how palm oil should be developed. There are concerns about impacts on local water supplies, wildlife populations, biodiversity and climate change. But the heart of the matter, what’s making communities speak out en masse, is control over land. To expand their palm oil production, a number of companies have relied on what critics describe as land grabs.
Communities aren’t opposed to growing oil palm. Unlike in Indonesia and Latin America, oil palm is native to West Africa, and an important traditional crop with a variety of uses. But in the past it has grown wild or been integrated into fields with other crops. The large global producers rely on monoculture plantations.
The RSPO was established in 2004 to create environmental and social standards for the palm oil industry. A number of environmentalists and human rights groups, however, have criticized it as ineffective or not effective enough. One study that evaluated a set of sustainability metrics on palm oil plantations in Indonesia found no difference between plantations that were RSPO-certified and those that were not. Another found that certification was sometimes associated with lower rates of deforestation, but many plantations were in areas where much of the forest had already been destroyed.
“Brands that use palm oil, meanwhile, use the certification to assure customers that the ingredient is sustainable. They talk a great talk, but they’re all basing their sourcing on RSPO certification, though, that all the negative attention to the RSPO has prompted some improvements. There’s some teeth to the mechanism now, which I don’t think was the case a couple years ago. But it’s definitely not a panacea. There’s still a lot of loopholes, and I think it does provide a veneer of credibility.”
In Africa, the very certification that’s supposed to ensure sustainability is actually responsible for communities losing more land than what will even be used for production, according to Kuyek. The RSPO, he says, incentivizes companies to include more land in their contracts than they will convert to plantations, so they can say they are setting aside a certain amount for protection. “In a kind of sinister way,” he says, “it actually encourages a larger land grab.” Asked if he sees any validity to the land protection statute along the lines of ecological conservation, Kuyek wrote in an email, “I’m afraid I don’t. There can be no meaningful programme for ecological conservation embedded in a fundamentally, destructive model of plantation agriculture.”
As the global population has doubled to 7.8 billion in about 50 years, industrial agriculture has increased the output from fields and farms to feed humanity. One of the negative outcomes of this transformation has been the extreme simplification of ecological systems, with complex multi-functional landscapes converted to vast swaths of monocultures that lack the complexity of biodiversity found in tropical rainforests. Industrial agriculture is the biggest threat to rare wild animals and rare wild plants in the world. Fight back and resist extinction every time you shop – be #Vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
The permanent transformation of forested landscapes for commodity crops currently drives more than a quarter of all global deforestation. This includes soy, palm oil, beef cattle, coffee, cocoa, sugar and other key ingredients of our increasingly simplified and highly processed diets.
The food most associated with biodiversity loss also tends to also be connected to unhealthy diets across the globe. Fifty years after the Green Revolution — the transition to intensive, high yielding food production reliant on a limited number of crop and livestock species — nearly 800 million people still go to bed hungry; one in three is malnourished; and up to two billion people suffer some sort of micronutrient deficiency and associated health impacts, such as stunting or wasting.
A large soy field cuts into the forest in Brazil. (Shutterstock)
The environmental impacts of our agricultural systems are also severe. The agricultural sector is responsible for up to 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, excessive water use, the loss of important pollinators and chemical pollution, among other impacts. It is pushing planetary boundaries even further.
In short, modern agriculture is failing to sustain the people and the ecological resources on which they rely. The incidence of infectious diseases correlates with the current loss of biodiversity.
Deforestation and disease
Few viruses have generated more global response than the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the current pandemic. Yet in the past 20 years, humanity has also faced SARS, MERS, H1N1, Chikungunya, Zika and numerous local outbreaks of Ebola. All of them are zoonotic diseases and at least one, Ebola, has been linked to deforestation.
Farming large numbers of genetically similar livestock along the forest frontier may provide a route for pathogens to mutate and become transmissible to humans. Forest loss and landscape change bring humans and wildlife into ever-increasing proximity, heightening the risk of an infectious disease spillover.
Zoonoses may be more prevalent in simplified systems with lower levels of biodiversity. In contrast, more diverse communities lower the risk of spillover into human populations. This form of natural control is known as the “dilution effect” and illustrates why biodiversity is an important regulatory mechanism.
The pandemic is further heightening pressures on forests. Increased unemployment, poverty and food insecurity in urban areas is forcing internal migration, as people return to their rural homes, particularly in the tropics. This trend will no doubt increase demands on remaining forest resources for fuel wood, timber and further conversion for small-scale agriculture.
Wet markets under scrutiny
The links between zoonoses and wildlife has led to many calls during the current pandemic to ban the harvest and sale of wild meat and other forms of animal source foods.
Vendors sell vegetables at a wet market in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/ Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, international agencies, including the Committee on World Food Security, have been concerned about the long-term viability of our current food system: could it provide diverse and nutritious diets while maintaining environmental sustainability and landscape diversity? The current pandemic has highlighted major shortfalls in our environmental stewardship.
We must harness the interconnected nature of our forests and food systems more effectively if we are to avoid future crises. Better integration of forests, agroforests (the incorporation of trees into agricultural systems) at the broader landscape scale, breaking down the institutional, economic, political and spatial separation of forestry and agriculture, can provide the key to a more sustainable, food secure and healthier future.
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
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3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
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#Sulawesi is part of a biodiversity hotspot – a region with at least 1,500 endemic #plants, specifically those with developed tissues. Less than 30% of the original primary vegetation cover remains.
Intensified illegal #timber logging and expansions of #palmoil plantations and farms have destroyed rainforests on Indonesia’s fourth-largest island, Sulawesi, threatening the biodiversity of a world-renowned epicentre of evolutionary biology. Help them to survive when you shop and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife
The expressive and ancient #Sulawesi Crested Black #Macaque 🐒 is tragically critically #endangered in #Sulawesi #Indonesia 🇮🇩 due to #palmoil #ecocide and #hunting. Help them survive #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect 🌴🪔🔥🙊🚫https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/14/deforestation-on-indonesian-island-of-sulawesi-destroys-habitat-of-endemic-primates/
The island is known as the Wallacea hotspot, referring to British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.
Although not yet as severe or dramatic as in the country’s larger islands of Sumatra/Sumatera and Kalimantan, my recent research reveals deforestation in Sulawesi has reached an alarming rate, destroying the habitats of endemic macaques and tarsiers.
Sulawesi black-crested macaque AKA Celebes Crested Macaque, native to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo: Alan Lagadu for Getty Images
My research finds Sulawesi lost 10.89% of its forest cover, or 2.07 million hectares, between 2000 and 2017, based on data from Global Forest Change Maps and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
West Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi suffered the highest rates of deforestation, losing 13.41% and 13.37% of forest cover during that period.
The average rate of deforestation on the island’s provinces ranged from 0.42% to 0.85% each year, still lower than the national average rate of 1% per year.
Sulawesi black-crested macaque AKA Celebes Crested Macaque, native to Sulawesi, Indonesia drinking from a river. Photo: Artrush for Getty Images
The impact on endemic primates
The increasing rate of deforestation in Sulawesi has taken its toll on the local primates, which account for almost a third of all primates in Indonesia.
Sulawesi has only two primate genera, Tarsius and Macaques, but these have diversified into more species than those same genera on other islands of Indonesia.
Hybrids and back-crosses of Sulawesi macaques are also renowned, making Sulawesi an important field laboratory for the study of genetics and primate evolution.
Sulawesi is also a home for 17 endemic primates that are of particular interest to primatologists due to their importance for Sulawesi’s highly distinctive biota. The island is an important habitat for endemic primates that is similar in kind, though not in scale, to that of Madagascar.
These primates are very good umbrella indicators of change in other species because they disperse the seeds of many trees, helping to maintain diversity and healthy populations of those forest species.
The current extent and rates of deforestation in Sulawesi have impacted hybrid zones and contact zones of all primates.
Hybrid zones are areas where different species of macaques breed or hybridise. Contact zones are areas of interaction among different species, where hybrids may arise between macaques.
As forest loss has continued to proceed at a high rate, primate habitat is highly affected.
Macaques ochreata, or booted macaque, in Southeast Sulawesi and Tarsius pelengensis, or Peleng tarsier, in Central Sulawesi have lost the most habitat at 14%, followed by M. hecki, known as Heck’s macaque, and M.tonkeana, or Tonkeana macaque.
Forest loss has occurred in all macaque contact zones. Another newly described species, Tarsius supriatnai, known as Jatna’s tarsier, is also facing threats due to deforestation. The research results show the species has lost 12% of its habitat.
The extent of deforestation in the hybrid zones is alarming, with the greatest loss of forest occurring in the zones between M. tonkeana and M. ochreata.
In Central Sulawesi, road construction threatens the zone between M. tonkeana and M. hecki. Corn, cocoa and coffee plantations are replacing the forests of Enrekang region, which are in the hybrid zones between M. maura, or Moor macaque, and M. tonkeana.
Macaques maura, or Moor macaques. ANTARA FOTO/Darwin Fatir/kye/16
Changes for human needs
Overall, we concluded that conflict between the need for human livelihoods and the need to protect primates would continue as deforestation rates have increased in the habitats of all Sulawesi primates.
The remaining habitat of the primates is not enough for them to survive unless the forest remnants become protected and carefully managed.
The two provinces with the highest rates of deforestation, West and Southeast Sulawesi, have had their forests turned into agricultural land for oil palm, maize and cocoa, as well as nickel mining.
Illegal logging also causes deforestation in the area, even in protected areas and national parks.
This problem is made worse by the fact that a significant proportion of the population relies on farming for survival. Population pressure and the lack of non-agricultural employment lead to demands for more agricultural land, which can only come at the cost of forests.
Traditional Tongkonan Long Houses in Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia. Photo: Oscar Espinoza for Getty Images
1. Join the #Boycott4Wildlife on social media and subscribe to stay in the loop: Share posts from this website to your own network on Twitter, Mastadon, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtags #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife.
2. Contribute stories: Academics, conservationists, scientists, indigenous rights advocates and animal rights advocates working to expose the corruption of the palm oil industry or to save animals can contribute stories to the website.
3. Supermarket sleuthing: Next time you’re in the supermarket, take photos of products containing palm oil. Share these to social media along with the hashtags to call out the greenwashing and ecocide of the brands who use palm oil. You can also take photos of palm oil free products and congratulate brands when they go palm oil free.
More and more palm oil free 🦧 products in Australia 🇦🇺. Customer awareness is increasing month by month. Of course Bart Van Assen will keep pushing "sustainable" palm oil with Orangutan Land Trust. Boycott palm oil to protect wildlife! There is not planet B #boycott4wildlifepic.twitter.com/rm7chub5Rb
If possible to get Ovomaltine, please promote it among your friends. It openly advertises with 0 palm oil. No RSPO no bullshit. For me it even tasts better than nuttela. It substantiates that chocolate spread can be made delicious without filthy palm oil. pic.twitter.com/cyV5Tm3tLd
4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.
5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here
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